U.S. Department of State 2003 Trafficking in Persons Report - Togo
- Author: Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
- Document source:
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Date:
11 June 2003
Togo (Tier 2)
Togo is a source and destination country for internationally trafficked persons, mostly children. The majority of the victims are trafficked to Cote D'Ivoire, Benin, Gabon, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Niger, and Europe for indentured servitude or domestic labor. Children are also trafficked internally and from Benin, Nigeria, and Ghana to Togo's urban areas for domestic labor.
The Government of Togo 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. The government should step up its financial commitment to anti-trafficking programs and protection efforts, penalize law enforcement officials for corruption or failure to act against traffickers, and enhance its efforts to prosecute traffickers to conviction.
Prevention
The government stepped up its anti-trafficking public awareness campaigns during 2002. With training from an international NGO, 278 Togolese workers traveled throughout the country to conduct grassroots education campaigns in individual villages on the dangers of child trafficking. They spoke to an estimated 35,000 people, especially young women, teachers, taxi drivers and village leaders. The government has established four centers to provide sex- and health-education for young women, and has also kept school fees lower for girls than for boys. In December 2002, the government hosted a regional meeting with the governments of Benin, Cote D'Ivoire, Mali, and Burkina Faso. Togo is participating in an international program to eliminate the worst forms of child labor and is a member of the regional plan of action against trafficking.
Prosecution
Togo has no specific anti-trafficking law, but the government has used other laws on the illegal movement or transfer of children, child labor, and sexual exploitation to prosecute and sentence traffickers. The Minor's Brigade, a police unit dedicated to juvenile issues, investigates trafficking cases. The most recent year for which statistics are available is 2000, with 50 prosecutions of traffickers. Corruption remains a problem. A bill was introduced into the National Assembly in late 2002 to outlaw trafficking and provide specific penalties, including for parents who may unwittingly send their children away for work. Togo cooperates with the governments of Benin, Nigeria, and Ghana to allow expedited extraditions between the four countries.
Protection
The government works closely with and supports NGOs in providing services to victims, primarily through in-kind donations. Four victim care centers have been established with the government providing land and buildings. Eighty children were being sheltered in the centers as of December 2002. Victims are generally respected and not treated as criminals by government officials, including the security forces, although this does not always occur. Victims are allowed to remain in Togo and obtain other employment in some cases. The NGOs encourage victims to seek legal action against traffickers. Specialized training programs are available for some victims.
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