Botswana Faces Challenges in Combating Human Trafficking and Financial Crime
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Introduction
Botswana is a source and destination country for women and children subjected to trafficking in persons, with victims forced into labor and commercial sexual exploitation. Despite efforts by the government to combat human trafficking, significant challenges remain.
Government Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking
- The government has drafted a comprehensive anti-trafficking law.
- Potential cases of human trafficking have been investigated.
- Protective services were provided to several individuals who may have been targets of traffickers.
However, the government faces challenges in prosecuting and convicting traffickers. Botswana was placed in “Tier 2” by the U.S. State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons due to inadequate efforts to combat human trafficking.
Challenges in Prosecuting and Convicting Traffickers
- The government has not fully complied with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.
- No traffickers have been prosecuted or convicted under existing anti-trafficking laws.
- Efforts to proactively identify victims among vulnerable populations have been lacking.
Prevention Efforts
The government made moderate efforts to prevent trafficking in and through Botswana, including:
- Participating in an anti-trafficking working group with NGOs to raise awareness on trafficking issues and foster communication between stakeholders.
- Funding the salaries of two ILO consultants to advise on how to strengthen laws on worst forms of child labor and enforcement of those laws.
- Conducting child labor inspections and removing at least one child from a situation of exploitative child labor.
Assistance for Victims
While Botswana’s public medical system includes psychological care facilities, and a university-run legal clinic provides assistance to victims of any crime, it is unclear whether any trafficking victims received assistance at these facilities in 2009.