U.S. Department of State 2003 Trafficking in Persons Report - Senegal

Senegal (Tier 2)

Senegal is a source and transit country for women and girls trafficked to Europe, South Africa, and the Middle East for sexual exploitation, and a destination country for children trafficked from surrounding countries. Large numbers of Senegalese children are forced to beg in the streets for food and money by religious leaders. Nigerian criminal organizations use Dakar as a transit point for women trafficked for purposes of prostitution to Europe, especially Italy. Some religious instructors in Koranic schools bring children from rural Senegal to Dakar and hold them under conditions of involuntary servitude.

The Government of Senegal does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so despite severe resource constraints. Appropriate next steps would include drafting anti-trafficking legislation, continuing efforts to centralize and streamline government anti-trafficking efforts, enforcing current statutes, and carrying out nationwide public awareness campaigns.

Prevention

The government participates in a pilot project with an international organization that is creating a migration statistics unit for West Africa. The Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, and Justice cooperated to produce a handbook of definitions, a regional work plan, and a survey of migration data sources. All cases of clandestine prostitution and trafficking have been entered from 1998-2001. Government programs are underway to make women more self-sufficient, improve educational opportunities for children (particularly girls), assist children in Koranic schools, foster income-generating projects in their villages, and eliminate the worst forms of child labor. In conjunction with international organizations, the government is implementing 10 programs to withdraw children from the worst forms of child labor and build capacity of civil society to protect children. Senegal is participating in a regional plan of action to combat trafficking in persons.

Prosecution

Senegal has no law against trafficking, but existing laws do cover abduction, hostage taking, and the sale of persons and are used against traffickers. Senegal has had some success in trafficking-related law enforcement efforts. In 2001, a high-profile attempt to traffic Senegalese women to Libya was prevented. In 2002, the Senegalese police responded to the allegations of an escaped Nigerian trafficking victim with several arrests and also broke up a Chinese brothel ring. The government provides anti-trafficking awareness training and capacity reinforcements for government officials. The government and NGOs are working together to develop a training manual on trafficking for police and for military peacekeepers.

Protection

The government works with several international organizations and NGOs to provide assistance and protection to trafficking victims.

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