[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

Marshall Islands (Tier 2 Watch List) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report

The Government of Marshall Islands does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so.  These efforts included identifying a labor trafficking victim with assistance from an NGO, conducting awareness raising activities, and continuing an investigation of a government official allegedly complicit in trafficking crimes.  However, the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, even considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its anti-trafficking capacity.  For the third consecutive year, the government did not prosecute any traffickers and has not convicted any traffickers since 2011.  The government did not utilize SOPs to identify trafficking victims and inappropriately penalized victims solely for immigration offenses committed as a direct result of being trafficked.  The government did not administer anti-trafficking training to law enforcement officials, despite a limited understanding of trafficking among such officials.  The government did not provide adequate financial and technical resources for anti-trafficking efforts.  Therefore Marshall Islands was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List.

Prioritized Recommendations

Investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes, including those involving victims’ family members and complicit officials, and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should involve significant prison terms. 

Finalize, adopt, and implement victim identification and referral SOPs and widely train police, immigration, port authority, and customs enforcement officers on the SOPs. 

Increase identification of trafficking victims and screen for trafficking indicators among all vulnerable groups, including individuals in commercial sex, undocumented migrant workers, foreign fishermen, and victims of GBV. 

Ensure victims are not inappropriately penalized solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked. 

Train law enforcement and prosecution officials to implement the anti-trafficking law with a focus on a trauma-informed approach to law enforcement efforts and trial, as well as the use of psychological coercion as a means of trafficking. 

Administer and fund protection services for victims in cooperation with NGOs and international organizations and ensure potential victims are proactively offered services while their case is investigated. 

Dedicate funding and resources to implement the NAP. 

Eliminate recruitment or placement fees charged to workers by labor recruiters and ensure any recruitment fees are paid by employers. 

Develop and conduct public anti-trafficking education and awareness raising campaigns, including in outer island communities. 

Increase access to and knowledge of protection services for outer island community residents and dedicate funding towards assisting with travel costs to receive assistance. 

Undertake research to study human trafficking in the country and make the findings publicly available. 

Accede to the 2000 UN TIP Protocol.