2007 Trafficking in Persons Report - Center for Women Policy Studies

EQUATORIAL GUINEA (Tier 3)
Equatorial Guinea is primarily a destination country
for children trafficked for the purposes of forced
labor and possibly for commercial sexual exploitation,
though some children may also be trafficked
within the country from rural areas to Malabo and
Bata for these same purposes. Children are trafficked
from Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon, and Gabon
for domestic, farm and commercial labor to Malabo
and Bata, where demand is high due to a thriving
oil industry and a growing expatriate business
community. Reports indicate that there are girls in
prostitution in Equatorial Guinea from Cameroon,
Benin, Togo, other neighboring countries, and the
People’s Republic of China, who may be victims of
trafficking.
The Government of Equatorial Guinea does not
fully comply with the minimum standards for the
elimination of trafficking, and it is not making
significant efforts to do so. Despite its significant
resources, the government failed to investigate and
prosecute traffickers and protect victims. However,
it did take steps to raise awareness of trafficking.
The government has not shown a political
commitment to addressing the country’s trafficking
in persons problem. To demonstrate a credible
response to trafficking, the government should:
create a specialized anti-trafficking police unit to
investigate trafficking complaints; increase efforts
to prosecute and convict traffickers; support local
NGO efforts to shelter victims; develop a system for
referring victims to NGOs; and create mechanisms
for collecting trafficking crime and victim data.
Prosecution
The Government of Equatorial Guinea demonstrated
insufficient law enforcement efforts to combat trafficking
during the reporting period. The government
prohibits all forms of trafficking through its 2004
Law on the Smuggling of Migrants and Trafficking in
Persons, which carries sufficiently stringent penalties
of 10 to 15 years’ imprisonment for labor and sex
trafficking. However, no one has been prosecuted
under this law. The government failed to report any
trafficking arrests during the year and did not effectively
investigate cases, failing to respond adequately
to at least 11 cases reported by civil society activists,
foreign embassy officials, and religious orders. If
police determined a reported case to be valid, they
paid the trafficker a visit, but lacked training and
awareness to identify trafficking suspects or victims.
The government also failed to investigate allegations
that Chinese employers may be recruiting Chinese
laborers for construction and confiscating their travel
documents to keep them in involuntary servitude.
The government funded two 5-day workshops at
which 210 law enforcement officers were trained
about trafficking. The government also reached out
to the international community to request additional
law enforcement training.
Protection
The government demonstrated weak and inadequate
efforts to provide care for trafficking victims during
the year. The Equatoguinean government neither
operates victim shelters nor funds the protection
efforts of local NGOs, despite its considerable
resources. The government also has no system in
place for identifying trafficking victims among
vulnerable populations and referring victims to
NGOs for care. The government failed to provide
data on any services it provided to victims. The
government does not encourage victims to assist in
trafficking or slavery investigations or prosecutions.
The government does not provide legal alternatives
to the removal of foreign victims to countries where
they face hardship or retribution. However, victims
are not inappropriately incarcerated or fined for
unlawful acts as a direct result of being trafficked.
Prevention
The Government of Equatorial Guinea made
progress in raising awareness about trafficking
during the year. The government disseminated its
2006 National Action Plan through workshops for
over 500 representatives from local, provincial and
national government agencies, foreign government
and international organization representatives,
NGOs, and the media. The government collaborated
with UNICEF to educate the public about
trafficking. It provided public service time for radio
and television announcements, paying for the staff
time and production materials for these broadcasts.
ESTONIA (Tier 2)
Estonia is a source, transit, and destination country
for men and women trafficked for the purposes
of sexual exploitation and forced labor. Estonian
women and girls are trafficked to Sweden, Finland,
Norway, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Spain,
Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands for purposes
of sexual exploitation. Men and women were
trafficked from Estonia to the United Kingdom for
the purpose of forced labor.
The Government of Estonia does not fully comply
with the minimum standards for the elimination of
E Q U AT O R I A L G U I N E A / E S T O N I A
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