[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

GUINEA-BISSAU (Tier 3) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report

The Government of Guinea-Bissau does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, even considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Guinea-Bissau remained on Tier 3. Despite the lack of significant efforts, the government took some steps to address trafficking, including implementing NRM procedures to refer child trafficking victims to civil society organizations for care, providing anti-trafficking training to border officials, and conducting a public awareness-raising radio campaign. However, the government did not prosecute any alleged traffickers for the fourth consecutive year, and it has never convicted a trafficker under its anti-trafficking law. Victim identification and services remained inadequate. The inter-ministerial committee did not conduct any anti-trafficking activities. The government continued to lack resources and political will to comprehensively combat human trafficking.

Prioritized Recommendations

Increase efforts to investigate, prosecute, and convict traffickers, including corrupt Quranic teachers who exploit boys in forced begging and complicit officials, and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should involve significant prison terms.

Cease using extra-judicial or administrative remedies to resolve human trafficking cases.

Finalize and implement standard procedures to systematically identify trafficking victims, including among vulnerable populations such as children exploited in forced begging, child laborers, domestic workers, individuals in commercial sex, and Cuban overseas workers.

Train the national guard, judicial police, and local police on identifying trafficking crimes and procedures for referring cases to the judicial police for criminal investigation.

Provide resources to the judicial police to expand its area of operation, including in Bijagos.

Fully implement the NRM by training law enforcement, judicial officials, social workers, and civil society on the procedures to refer all identified trafficking victims to care.

Allocate financial or in-kind resources for the anti-trafficking inter-ministerial committee, convene regular meetings, and strengthen its authority to coordinate anti-trafficking efforts across government agencies.

In collaboration with civil society, increase the quantity and quality of services available to all trafficking victims, including adults.

Strengthen cooperation with the Government of Senegal to repatriate and reintegrate trafficking victims, especially child forced begging victims, and investigate trafficking networks.

Develop and finalize a NAP to combat trafficking and allocate resources to its implementation.

Significantly increase efforts to raise public awareness of human trafficking, especially forced begging and child sex trafficking.