[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

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

The Government of Uruguay 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 to the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Uruguay remained on Tier 2.  These efforts included identifying more victims, opening a new facility to support adult female trafficking victims, and hiring specialized labor inspectors to identify child labor violations, including forced child labor.  However, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas.  The government investigated, prosecuted, and convicted slightly fewer traffickers.  Officials did not identify any adult male trafficking victims.  The government did not provide consistent access to shelters.  Authorities lacked comprehensive SOPs for victim identification and referral that included adequate guidance for supporting male victims and labor trafficking victims.

Prioritized Recommendations

Provide adequate services and shelter for all victims, especially male victims and those outside the capital. 

Ensure SOPs for victim identification and referral include male victims and support the Ministry of Social Development (MIDES) in developing internal procedures to provide services to male trafficking victims. 

Train law enforcement officials, labor inspectors, coast guard officers, prosecutors, judges, and social workers to understand human trafficking and utilize the interagency mechanism for victim identification and referral. 

Operationalize a centralized database to systematically record official statistics on trafficking cases and victim identification. 

Establish SOPs to guide labor inspectors in identifying and referring potential labor trafficking victims, including through proactive screening for trafficking indicators. 

Adopt and fund a new NAP to combat human trafficking. 

Allocate a dedicated anti-trafficking budget and expand funding for victim services, including daytime, long-term, and reintegration services. 

Proactively screen foreign workers for trafficking indicators, including through inspections aboard foreign-flagged vessels in Uruguayan waters and docked at port. 

Vigorously investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes, and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should involve significant prison terms. 

Consistently inform victims of their rights under the law, including to apply for permanent residence permits and compensation from their traffickers, and support those victims who wish to pursue these rights. 

Revise the definition of trafficking under Uruguayan law to align with the definition in the 2000 UN TIP Protocol.