The most comprehensive compilation of information on the status of
women in the world.

Latest items for TRAFF-LAW-1

Nov. 12, 2024, 1:32 p.m.
Countries: Latvia
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"The Committee welcomes the progress achieved...in particular the adoption of the following…[c]ombating forced prostitution, from 2007 to 2014...[and] amendments to the Criminal Procedure Law aimed at facilitating the involvement of victims, including victims of gender-based violence against women, in criminal proceedings and introducing ex officio prosecution of rape, sexual violence and deliberate slight bodily injury, as well as a new category of 'specially protected victims', including children, victims of sexual or domestic violence or intimate partner violence and victims of trafficking, in 2016" (1, 2). "The State party has not enacted specific legislation on trafficking" (8).
Nov. 1, 2024, 9:38 a.m.
Countries: South Africa
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"Incredibly, the bill [decriminallizing prostitution] would repeal prohibitions against 'any conspiracy to induce a female to engage in sexual acts, and kidnapping for purposes of sexual acts against a person’s will, including if such female is under the age of 16' and 'the ability to punish any parent or guardian who procures or attempts to procure a child to engage in prostitution; (the definition of child sex trafficking)" (para 6). This law has only been proposed and is not yet passed (CEC - CODER COMMENT).
Oct. 9, 2024, 7:59 p.m.
Countries: Belize
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"In 2013, the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2013, CAP 108 of the Laws of Belize. replaced the 2003 version. The revised version put into effect the UN Protocol to Prevent Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons. The new Act criminalizes sex trafficking, labour trafficking and forced marriage of both adult and child victims. This Act also addresses trafficking in children for adoption or criminal intent. It outlines procedures for the forfeiture of assets gained from trafficking activities and made provisions to improve aid and protection for victims. In 2013, the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (Prohibition) Act (CSEC) was passed. The CSEC Act gave effect to the Optional Protocol...more
May 23, 2024, 10:39 p.m.
Countries: Gabon
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"Articles 225 to 225-7 of the 2020 revised penal code criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking, prescribing penalties of up to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of 100 million Central African francs (CFA) ($162,920) for trafficking offenses involving adult victims, and up to 15 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to 100 million CFA ($162, 920) for those involving child victims. These penalties were sufficiently stringent, but with respect to adult sex trafficking, not commensurate with penalties prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape. Inconsistent with the definition of trafficking under international law, the penal code established the use of force, fraud, or coercion as aggravating factors...more
May 23, 2024, 10:25 p.m.
Countries: Nigeria
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"The Trafficking in Persons Law Enforcement and Administration Act (TIPLEAA), as amended in 2015, criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking and prescribed a minimum penalty of two years’ imprisonment and a fine of 250,000 naira ($568) for both sex and labor trafficking; the minimum penalty for sex trafficking involving a child was seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of 1 million naira ($2,270). These penalties were sufficiently stringent and, with regard to sex trafficking, commensurate with those prescribed for other serious crimes, such as kidnapping." (3).
May 23, 2024, 10:24 p.m.
Countries: Niger
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"Order No. 2010-86 on Combating Trafficking in Persons, enacted in 2010, criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking. The law prescribed penalties of five to 10 years’ imprisonment for trafficking offenses involving an adult victim, and 10 to 30 years’ imprisonment for those involving a child victim. These penalties were sufficiently stringent. Penalties for sex trafficking of children were commensurate with those prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape, although the penalties for sex trafficking of adults were not. Article 270 of the penal code also criminalized slavery and prescribed penalties of 10 to 30 years’ imprisonment and a fine. The government drafted a bill criminalizing the practice of wahaya,...more
May 23, 2024, 10:23 p.m.
Countries: Nicaragua
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"The Law against Trafficking in Persons of 2015 (Law 896) criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking and prescribed penalties ranging from 10 to 15 years’ imprisonment; these penalties were sufficiently stringent and, with respect to sex trafficking, commensurate with penalties prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape. Inconsistent with the definition of trafficking under international law, the law established the use of force, coercion, or deceit as an aggravating factor rather than an essential element of the crime; the penalties increased to 16 to 18 years’ imprisonment for trafficking offenses involving these factors. The penalty for child trafficking increased to 19 to 20 years’ imprisonment. The law also defined...more
May 23, 2024, 10:23 p.m.
Countries: New Zealand
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"The Crimes Act of 1961, as amended in 2015, criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking. Section 98D (trafficking in persons) criminalized all forms of labor trafficking and some forms of sex trafficking and prescribed penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine not exceeding 500,000 New Zealand dollars (NZD) ($317,460), or both; these penalties were sufficiently stringent and, with respect to the forms of sex trafficking covered under the provision, commensurate with the penalties prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape. Inconsistent with international law, section 98D required a demonstration of deception or coercion to constitute a child sex trafficking offense, and therefore did not criminalize all forms...more
May 23, 2024, 10:21 p.m.
Countries: Netherlands
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"Article 273f of the criminal code criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking and prescribed punishments of up to 12 years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to €87,000 ($92,950) for trafficking crimes involving an adult victim, and up to 15 years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to €87,000 ($92,950) for those crimes in which the victim was a child. These penalties were sufficiently stringent and, with respect to sex trafficking, commensurate with those prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape. The government frequently prosecuted child sex trafficking crimes as child sexual abuse (Article 248b), which carried lesser penalties. The BES criminal code criminalized sex and labor trafficking under...more
May 23, 2024, 10:21 p.m.
Countries: Nepal
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"The HTTCA’s definition of trafficking was inconsistent with the international definition of trafficking. It limited the definition of human trafficking to the purchase or selling of a person and to causing another person to go into prostitution; did not include a demonstration of force, fraud, or coercion as an essential element of the base offense; and did not explicitly address forced labor. The law separately defined “human transportation” as the taking of a person from their home or place of residence through force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of prostitution or keeping a person as a slave or bonded laborer." (3).
May 23, 2024, 10:20 p.m.
Countries: Namibia
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"The Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act of 2018, which came into effect in November 2019, criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking and prescribed penalties of up to 30 years’ imprisonment, a fine not exceeding 1 million Namibian dollars ($59,000) or both. These penalties were sufficiently stringent and, with respect to sex trafficking, commensurate with punishments prescribed for other serious crimes, such as kidnapping." (3).
May 23, 2024, 10:20 p.m.
Countries: Mozambique
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"The 2008 Law on Preventing and Combating the Trafficking of People criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking and prescribed penalties of 16 to 20 years’ imprisonment. These penalties were sufficiently stringent and, with respect to sex trafficking, commensurate with those prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape. Inconsistent with international law, the law did not establish the use of force, fraud, or coercion as an essential element of the crime. The government continued to work with an international organization to review draft amendments to bring the 2008 anti-trafficking law in line with international standards; however, draft amendments remained awaiting approval by various stakeholders for the fourth consecutive reporting period."...more
May 23, 2024, 10:19 p.m.
Countries: Morocco
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"Although the act of selling sex is not specifically mentioned in the Penal Code, in practice, other laws make it impossible to sell sex without committing a crime. Soliciting in a public place is illegal under Article 501 of the Penal Code, and Article 490 also criminalises any "The government increased overall anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts. Law 27.14 criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking and prescribed penalties of five to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine between 10,000 and 500,000 dirhams (DH) ($950 and $47,710) for crimes involving adult victims, and 20 to 30 years’ imprisonment and a fine between 100,000 and one million DH ($9,540 and $95,420) for those...more
May 23, 2024, 10:19 p.m.
Countries: Montenegro
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"Article 444 of the criminal code criminalized labor trafficking and sex trafficking and prescribed penalties ranging from one to ten years’ imprisonment, which were sufficiently stringent and commensurate with those prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape." (3).
May 23, 2024, 10:18 p.m.
Countries: Mongolia
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"Article 13.1 of the criminal code criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking; it prescribed penalties of two to eight years’ imprisonment for offenses involving an adult victim and five to 12 years’ imprisonment for those involving a child victim...Other provisions of the criminal code additionally criminalized some forms of labor and sex trafficking. Article 13.13 separately criminalized forced labor and prescribed fines, community service, probation, and/or one to five years’ imprisonment. Article 12.3 of the criminal code criminalized sexual exploitation offenses, including some forms of sex trafficking; penalties ranged from two to eight years’ imprisonment for trafficking offenses involving individuals older than the age of 14, and 12 to 20...more
May 23, 2024, 10:18 p.m.
Countries: Moldova
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"Articles 165 and 206 of the criminal code criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking. The law prescribed penalties of six to 12 years’ imprisonment for trafficking crimes involving an adult victim and 10 to 12 years’ imprisonment for those involving a child victim...Article 168 of the criminal code also criminalized forced labor and imposed penalties of up to three years’ imprisonment. In 2022, the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) held public consultations on new legislation to extensively amend the criminal code, including prescriptive sentences for trafficking-related crimes and reviewing appropriate penalties, including new provisions for aggravating circumstances; the legislation was being finalized at the end of the reporting period." (3). "The...more
May 23, 2024, 10:17 p.m.
Countries: Mexico
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"The 2012 anti-trafficking law criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking, prescribing penalties of five to 30 years’ imprisonment and fines for sex trafficking offenses, and five to 20 years’ imprisonment and fines for labor trafficking. These penalties were sufficiently stringent and, with respect to sex trafficking, commensurate with those prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape. The law defined trafficking broadly to include illegal adoption without the purpose of exploitation. Federal officials had jurisdiction over all international trafficking cases, all cases that took place on federally administered territory involving organized crime, and all cases involving allegations against government officials. States investigated other internal trafficking cases. Thirty states had anti-trafficking...more
May 23, 2024, 10:16 p.m.
Countries: Mauritius
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"The Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act of 2009 criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking of adults and children and prescribed penalties of up to 15 years’ imprisonment...The Children’s Act of 2020 also criminalized child sex trafficking and prescribed penalties of up to 10 years’ imprisonment." (3).
May 23, 2024, 10:16 p.m.
Countries: Mauritania
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"The 2020 Law on the Prevention and Punishment of Trafficking in Persons criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking and included hereditary slavery as a form of human trafficking, and it prescribed penalties of 10 to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of 250,000 to 500,000 Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRU) ($6,760 to $13,510). These penalties were sufficiently stringent and, with respect to sex trafficking, commensurate with those prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape. The 2015 anti-slavery law criminalized hereditary slavery and prescribed sufficiently stringent penalties of five to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of 250,000 to 500,000 MRU ($6,760 to $13,510)." (3).
May 23, 2024, 10:15 p.m.
Countries: Malta
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"Article 248A-G of the criminal code criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking, and it prescribed penalties of six to 12 years’ imprisonment." (3).
May 23, 2024, 10:15 p.m.
Countries: Mali
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"Law 2012-023 Relating to the Combat against Trafficking in Persons and Similar Practices, as amended, criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking. The law prescribed penalties of five to 10 years’ imprisonment for trafficking crimes, except forced begging for which it prescribed lesser penalties of two to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of 500,000 to 2 million West African CFA francs (FCFA) ($810-$3,250)." (3). "Transition government officials and NGOs reported that the law did not precisely define hereditary slavery and therefore could not be effectively implemented to prosecute trafficking cases involving hereditary slavery. Draft legislation revising the anti-trafficking law and penal code to explicitly define hereditary slavery as a form...more
May 23, 2024, 10:13 p.m.
Countries: Maldives
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"The Prevention of Human Trafficking Act (PHTA), as amended, criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking and prescribed penalties of up to 10 years’ imprisonment for trafficking offenses involving an adult victim and up to 15 years’ imprisonment for those involving a child victim." (3).
May 23, 2024, 10:12 p.m.
Countries: Malaysia
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"The 2007 Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act, as amended, criminalized labor trafficking and sex trafficking and prescribed punishments of three to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine, which were sufficiently stringent and, with respect to sex trafficking, commensurate with those prescribed for other serious offenses, such as rape." (3). "An amendment to the Employment Act of 1955 took effect on January 1, 2023, which added a provision criminalizing forced labor offenses by employers used threats of intimidation, restriction of movement, or fraud to induce labor or services. The law prescribed penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine of 100,000 Malaysian ringgit (RM) ($22,730), or...more
May 23, 2024, 10:12 p.m.
Countries: Malawi
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"The 2015 Trafficking in Persons Act criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking, and it prescribed punishments of up to 14 years’ imprisonment for offenses involving an adult victim and up to 21 years’ imprisonment for those involving a child victim." (3).
May 23, 2024, 10:11 p.m.
Countries: Madagascar
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"Law No.2014-040 criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking and prescribed penalties ranging from two to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of 1 million to 10 million Malagasy Ariary (MGA) ($230 to $2,295) for crimes involving an adult victim, and five to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of 2 million to 20 million MGA ($460 to $4,560) for those involving a child victim...For crimes involving children, with respect to sex trafficking, these penalties were commensurate with those prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape; however, offenses involving adult sex trafficking were not commensurate with those prescribed for other serious crimes." (3).
May 23, 2024, 10:11 p.m.
Countries: Macedonia
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"The government increased law enforcement efforts. Articles 418(a) and (d) of the criminal code criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking and prescribed a minimum penalty of four years’ imprisonment, which was sufficiently stringent and, with regard to sex trafficking, commensurate with those for serious crimes, such as rape." (3).
May 23, 2024, 10:10 p.m.
Countries: Luxembourg
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"Luxembourg criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking through Articles 382-1 and 382-2 of the criminal code and prescribed penalties of three to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine for trafficking offenses involving adult victims and 10 to 15 years’ imprisonment and a fine for offenses involving child victims. These penalties were sufficiently stringent and, with respect to sex trafficking, commensurate with penalties prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape. Inconsistent with the definition of trafficking under international law, the law established the use of force, fraud, or coercion as aggravating factors rather than essential elements of the crime." (3).
May 23, 2024, 10:10 p.m.
Countries: Lithuania
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"Articles 147 and 157 of the criminal code criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking and prescribed penalties ranging from two to 12 years’ imprisonment, which were sufficiently stringent and, with regard to sex trafficking, commensurate with penalties prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape." (3).
May 23, 2024, 10:09 p.m.
Countries: Libya
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"Libyan law criminalized some forms of sex trafficking but did not criminalize labor trafficking. Articles 418, 419, and 420 of the penal code criminalized some forms of sex trafficking involving women and prescribed penalties of up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine, which were sufficiently stringent and commensurate with penalties prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape. However, inconsistent with international law, the definition of trafficking within these provisions required transnational movement of the victim and did not criminalize sex trafficking acts that were induced through fraudulent or coercive means. The law did not criminalize sex trafficking involving adult male victims. Article 425 criminalized slavery and prescribed penalties...more
May 23, 2024, 10:09 p.m.
Countries: Liberia
Variables: TRAFF-LAW-1

"The 2021 Revised Act to Ban Trafficking in Persons Within the Republic of Liberia criminalized all forms of sex and labor trafficking and prescribed minimum sentences of 20 years imprisonment, which were sufficiently stringent and, with respect to sex trafficking, commensurate with those prescribed for other serious crimes, such as kidnapping. The Revised Act to Ban Trafficking in Persons Within the Republic of Liberia amended the 2005 Act to Ban Trafficking in Persons and brought Liberia’s trafficking laws in line with international law." (3).