The United States Department of State Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo on Thursday released the 2020 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, upgrading The Gambia to Tier 2 Watch List.
“The report notes that the Government of The Gambia is making significant efforts in this important area but does not yet fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking,” a statement by the US government through its Embassy in Banjul said.
The United States government this time last year said The Gambia is not making significant efforts to fight human trafficking – as the country was placed in Tier 3 where it risked sanctions.
It prompted the Gambia government to make urgent moves including a two-day summit in January this year to analyse the situation of trafficking in persons in the country.
Six months down the line, the country has now been been upgraded to Tier 2 of the US TIP Report.
The US Department of State said: “The United States congratulates the Gambian government, the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons, law enforcement and justice sector entities, civil society organizations and key partners in the advancements made this past year to combat trafficking. These modest advancements include increased investigations, identifying more trafficking victims, improving security at the Department of Social Welfare shelter, coordinating with international organizations to increase training for officials, and significantly increasing efforts to raise public awareness of trafficking, including of child sex trafficking. In addition, the government encouraged former president Yahya Jammeh’s victims of sexual exploitation to testify at the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission. Many of these efforts were facilitated by the International Organization for Migration via a grant from the United States government, with an array of Gambian civil society organizations and international partners playing a vital role in promoting activities to combat trafficking and support victims.
“Despite these achievements, the government did not convict a trafficker for the third consecutive year, victim services remained inadequate overall, and some law enforcement officers allegedly requested bribes to register trafficking complaints.
“Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, a country can remain at Tier 2 Watch List for only two years and must address identified deficiencies to progress fully to Tier 2 within that time or be automatically downgraded to Tier 3. The annual rating cycle begins on April 1 and ends on March 31. We encourage the Gambian Government to expand on the good work undertaken over the past year and redouble efforts in the following critical areas: direct and fund law enforcement to investigate all reported trafficking cases, including those brought forward by civil society; investigate those accused of taking bribes to do their duty under the laws of The Gambia; increase efforts to vigorously investigate, prosecute, and convict traffickers, including allegations of child sex tourism; cease using extra-judicial or administrative remedies to resolve human trafficking cases; develop and train government officials on comprehensive standard procedures to proactively identify trafficking victims, including among people in commercial sex and other vulnerable groups.”
