Human Trafficking in  [Kiribati]  [other countries]
Street Children in  [Kiribati]  [other countries]
Child Prostitution in  [Kiribati]  [other countries]
 

Human Trafficking & Modern-day Slavery

In the first ten years of the 21st Century  -  2000 to 2009

Republic of Kiribati

A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few natural resources and is one of the least developed Pacific Islands. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were exhausted at the time of independence from the UK in 1979. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports. The economy has fluctuated widely in recent years. Economic development is constrained by a shortage of skilled workers, weak infrastructure, and remoteness from international markets. Tourism provides more than one-fifth of GDP.  [The World Factbook, U.S.C.I.A. 2009]

Scope and Magnitude [June 2008] During the last year, international organizations and NGOs expressed concerns that internal trafficking of underage girls for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation by crews of foreign and local fishing vessels takes place occasionally in Kiribati. It is reported that approximately 17 girls were involved in commercial sexual exploitation in South Tarawa and Christmas Island. There is anecdotal evidence that a few third parties, sometimes including family members, facilitated commercial sexual exploitation of minors. Crews from Taiwanese and South Korean fishing vessels reportedly exploited underage girls on board for commercial sexual exploitation. - U.S. State Dept Trafficking in Persons Report, June, 2008 [full country report]

 

CAUTION:  The following links have been culled from the web to illuminate the situation in Kiribati.  Some of these links may lead to websites that present allegations that are unsubstantiated or even false.  No attempt has been made to validate their authenticity or to verify their content.

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U.S. Dept of Labor Bureau of International Labor Affairs [PDF]

CHILD LABOR LAWS AND ENFORCEMENT - Part IX, Section 84 of the Employment Ordinance, Employment of Children and Other Young Persons, sets the minimum age for employment at 14 years, and children under 16 years are prohibited from industrial employment or jobs aboard ships. Although there is no law specifically prohibiting the worst forms of child labor in Kiribati, there are statutes under which the worst forms can be prosecuted. The Constitution prohibits forced labor.

Bur of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor - Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2006

TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS – The law does not prohibit trafficking in persons, but there were no reports that persons were trafficked to, from, or within the country.

The Protection Project - Kiribati [DOC]

TRAFFICKING ROUTES – Despite a lack of specific evidence on trafficking, Kiribati is believed to be a transit country for trafficking in persons from China en route to the Marshall Islands, Australia, Canada, and the United States.

Freedom House Country Report - Political Rights: 1   Civil Liberties: 1   Status: Free

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Human Trafficking in  [Kiribati]  [other countries]
Street Children in  [Kiribati]  [other countries]
Child Prostitution in  [Kiribati]  [other countries]