[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

GUINEA (Tier 2) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report

The Government of Guinea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so.  The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of COVID-19, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Guinea was upgraded to Tier 2.  These efforts included initiating prosecutions, referring all identified victims and potential victims to services, and opening two new shelters dedicated to trafficking victims.  The government updated its SOPs on victim identification and referral to care and, in partnership with an international organization, began screening undocumented migrants for trafficking indicators.  However, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas.  The government did not amend its penal code to remove sentencing provisions that allow fines in lieu of imprisonment for trafficking crimes or increase penalties prescribed for forced begging.

Prioritized Recommendations

Increase efforts to investigate and prosecute suspected traffickers and complicit officials, and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should involve significant prison terms. 

Amend the penal code to remove sentencing provisions that allow fines in lieu of imprisonment and ensure penalties prescribed for forced begging are sufficiently stringent. 

Significantly increase efforts to identify trafficking victims among vulnerable populations, including children exploited in forced begging, workers in artisanal mining sites, women traveling to the Middle East in potential fraudulent recruitment schemes, and Cuban medical professionals, and refer trafficking victims to appropriate services. 

Draft and implement an anti-trafficking National Action Plan. 

Increase funding and in-kind support for NGOs to ensure all identified trafficking victims receive services. 

Train law enforcement and service providers on standard procedures to identify trafficking victims and refer them to services. 

Develop a formal witness assistance program for victims participating in judicial proceedings. 

Provide the Office for the Protection of Gender, Children, and Morals (OPROGEM) and labor inspectors the resources and training necessary to monitor recruitment agencies and investigate forced labor cases. 

Establish a uniform and comprehensive data collection system on anti-trafficking efforts, distinguishing human trafficking from other crimes. 

Increase efforts to raise public awareness of trafficking, including child forced labor. 

Strengthen the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons and Similar Practices’ (CNLTPPA) authority to implement anti-trafficking policy and coordinate activities and information sharing among agencies conducting anti-trafficking work. 

Develop mechanisms for formalizing law enforcement collaboration with countries in Africa and the Middle East, including through bilateral agreements. 

Screen any North Korean workers for signs of trafficking and refer them to appropriate services, in a manner consistent with obligations under United Nations Security Council resolution 2397.