[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

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

The transition government of Mali does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so.  The transition government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Mali was upgraded to Tier 2.  These efforts included holding the first special Court of Assizes session focused on hereditary slavery and prosecuting and convicting more traffickers, including for hereditary slavery crimes.  It launched an NRM and victim statistics database and identified more trafficking victims.  The transition government collaborated with international organizations to provide anti-trafficking training to law enforcement and judicial officials and allocated more funding for anti-trafficking efforts.  However, the transition government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas.  The transition government lacked full control over large portions of its territory, particularly in the northern and central regions, limiting its ability to combat trafficking crimes, provide victims with services, and gather data.  For the fourth consecutive year, it did not amend the anti-trafficking law to explicitly define hereditary slavery as a form of human trafficking.  Its efforts to identify and protect hereditary slavery victims, including from acts of violence and retribution, were inadequate, and officials did not report proactively identifying or referring any hereditary slavery victims to care.  The transition government did not investigate any law enforcement or government officials for complicity in trafficking crimes, including for prior forced recruitment or use of child soldiers.  Shelter and services for victims, especially male victims, remained insufficient and were primarily restricted to Bamako.  Authorities did not consistently refer identified trafficking victims to services.

Prioritized Recommendations

Vigorously investigate and prosecute cases of human trafficking, including hereditary slavery, and cases of unlawful recruitment or use of children; seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, including complicit officials, which should involve significant prison terms.

Amend the anti-trafficking law to effectively investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes involving hereditary slavery.

Cease the unlawful recruitment or use of children, including in support roles, and investigate reports of military personnel’s recruitment or use of children.

Screen vulnerable populations, including children associated with armed groups, communities historically exploited in hereditary slavery, and individuals in commercial sex, for trafficking indicators.

Train front-line actors, including law enforcement, security forces, judicial officials, social workers, and civil society, on the NRM and standard procedures to refer trafficking victims to care.

Expand and strengthen reintegration programs for former child soldiers to include psycho-social care, family reintegration, education, and vocational training; fully implement the 2013 inter-ministerial protocol to refer all children associated with armed groups to care and cease inappropriately detaining children for alleged association with armed groups.

Institutionalize training for law enforcement and judicial actors on investigating and prosecuting trafficking crimes under the 2012 anti-trafficking law and victim-centered investigative and prosecutorial techniques.

Increase the quantity and quality of services available to all victims, including adults and victims outside of the capital, in coordination with civil society.

Empower the anti-trafficking inter-ministerial committee (CNCTLPA) to coordinate the transition government’s anti-trafficking response by adopting a new NAP and allocating dedicated resources and personnel.