U.S. Department of State 2001 Trafficking in Persons Report - Gabon

Gabon (Tier 3)

Gabon is a destination country for trafficked persons, primarily children from west and central Africa (specifically Benin and Togo) for domestic servitude. Women and children are also trafficked to Gabon for sexual exploitation.

The Government of Gabon does not meet the minimum standards and has not yet made significant efforts to combat trafficking, due in part to resource constraints. The Government acknowledges that trafficking in persons is a problem, but is limited by a lack of resources and porous borders. The law does not specifically prohibit trafficking; however, traffickers can be prosecuted under laws prohibiting exploitation, abandonment and mistreatment of women. The Government does not actively investigate cases of trafficking and has not prosecuted any cases against traffickers. The Government has an interministerial committee comprised of representatives from the Labor, Justice, Foreign Affairs and Family Ministries charged with anti-trafficking programs. The Government does not support programs aimed at the prevention of trafficking, and has neither a policy nor resources to provide assistance to trafficking victims. Trafficking victims are not detained or deported. The Government has an informal cooperative relationship with NGO's providing services to victims. The Government cooperates informally with other governments on trafficking cases. Gabon hosted a sub-regional seminar on child trafficking in 2000. In January 2001, the Government sponsored a conference for local officials and NGO's on combating trafficking in persons. The Government ratified ILO Convention 182.