U.S. Department of State 2006 Trafficking in Persons Report - The Central African Republic

The Central African Republic (Tier 2 Watch List)

The Central African Republic is a source and destination country for children trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation. While the majority of child victims are trafficked within the country, some are also trafficked to and from Cameroon and Nigeria. Children are trafficked for domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, and forced labor in shops and commercial labor activities.

The Government of the Central African Republic does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. The Central African Republic is placed on Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons over the last year, specifically its inadequate law enforcement response to trafficking crimes. To improve its response to trafficking, the government should pass legislation prohibiting trafficking and reach out to NGOs and the international community to form partnerships for initiatives to prosecute traffickers, protect victims, and educate the public about trafficking.

Prosecution

The Government of the Central African Republic demonstrated weak efforts to combat trafficking through law enforcement over the reporting period. The Central African Republic does not have legislation prohibiting trafficking, though it does have laws against forced child labor and sexual assault. In collaboration with the UN, the government will revise its labor code in 2006 to better conform to international child protection conventions. Judicial officials have only a nascent awareness of trafficking in persons. The government provides no trafficking training for law enforcement officials. The government does not actively investigate trafficking cases and has not prosecuted any traffickers. Government officials plan to initiate the process of drafting anti-trafficking legislation.

Protection

The Government of the Central African Republic demonstrated insufficient efforts to protect trafficking victims over the reporting period. The Central African Republic does not provide services to trafficking victims or assist them through referrals to NGOs, very few of which themselves have adequate resources or a strong awareness of trafficking. No government agencies have been designated to address victim protection. The Ministry of Social Affairs expressed a willingness to conduct protection programs but lacks the resources to do so.

Prevention

The Government of the Central African Republic demonstrated some modest efforts to prevent trafficking. The government does not conduct campaigns to educate the public about trafficking or liaise with NGOs or international organizations to do so. The government collaborated with UNICEF, however, to conduct one study published in 2005 on child abuse, sexual exploitation, and sex trafficking in the Central African Republic, and a second study that will be published in 2006 on violence associated with child labor. In partnership with UNICEF, the government also plans to draft a national action plan against child sexual exploitation in 2006. There are no dedicated ministries or government structures in place to address trafficking.