The United States government 2023 Human Trafficking report has revealed that the Liberian Government does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but is making significant efforts to do so.
The U.S government, in its 2023 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report released by the US Embassy in Monrovia Thursday, June 15, 2023, is an exact replica of last year (2022 report).
The U.S July 2022 TIP report said: “The Government of Liberia does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but is making significant efforts to do so.”
It added, “The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore, Liberia was upgraded to Tier 2.”
The latest 2023 report, which says Liberia remains on the Tier 2 watch list, however commended the Liberian government for demonstrating overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity.
Among other things, the report says TIP victim services need to be expanded and there should be increased efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking cases.
U.S. Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken in his 2023 TIP report release, maintained, “The TIP Report assesses government efforts around the world to combat human trafficking and highlights strategies to address this crime and protect the victims. This year’s report, which the 23rd edition, includes narratives for 188 countries and territories, including the United States.”
Secretary Blinken, in his TIP report recommend to the government to expand victim services – particularly for victims outside the capital, noting that males, and victims requiring long-term care.
According to him, the government should also increase efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking cases, including those involving internal trafficking, sex trafficking, related criminal networks, and officials accused of complicity.
“Train labor inspectors and social workers on standard victim identification procedures and the national referral mechanism. Improve collaboration between anti-trafficking police units, immigration, labor, and judicial authorities,” he said.
Secretary Blinken urged the government to increase financial or in-kind support to NGOs that support trafficking victims, as well as train law enforcement and judicial officials on identifying, investigating, and prosecuting trafficking cases under the revised 2021 anti-trafficking law.
He said the government should also increase labor inspections in the informal sector and mining regions to improve identification of trafficking cases, including child forced labor, and increase efforts to raise public awareness of human trafficking, including internal trafficking.
The U.S Secretary TIP report added, “Allocate financial and in-kind resources to the national anti-trafficking task force, and screen foreign workers, including Cuban overseas workers, for forced labor indicators and refer identified forced labor victims to appropriate services.”
