U.S. Department of State 2006 Trafficking in Persons Report - Chad
| Publisher | United States Department of State |
| Author | Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons |
| Publication Date | 5 June 2006 |
| Cite as | United States Department of State, U.S. Department of State 2006 Trafficking in Persons Report - Chad, 5 June 2006, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4680d87e19.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Chad (Tier 2)
Chad is a source, transit, and destination country for children trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation. The majority of victims are trafficked within Chad to work in involuntary domestic servitude, herding, or as beggars. Minors are also trafficked from Cameroon and the Central African Republic for commercial sexual exploitation to Chad's oil-producing regions. Chadian children are trafficked to Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Nigeria, and possibly Saudi Arabia.
The Government of Chad does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. To further its progress in combating trafficking, Chad should pass anti-trafficking legislation and provide increased victim care.
Prosecution
During the reporting period, the Government of Chad continued to make modest efforts to investigate, arrest, and prosecute traffickers. Chadian law does not specifically prohibit trafficking in persons. Prosecutors use related laws, however, such as kidnapping, sale of children, and statutes against child labor, to charge traffickers. Legal code revisions outlawing trafficking are pending approval by the Council of Ministers. In 2005, Chadian authorities arrested three child traffickers who are awaiting trial. The Ministry of Justice is cooperating with Saudi Arabian officials to investigate cases of Chadian children working there as beggars. The government in 2005 closed a Koranic school for forcing children to beg.
Protection
Chad continued to make modest efforts, within its limited capacity, to provide victim protection during the reporting period. The government lacks sufficient resources to provide its own shelters but it contributes funding and in-kind support to UNICEF's protection efforts. When police or other authorities find a trafficking victim, they regularly notify the Ministry of Justice's Child Protection Department, UNICEF, or local NGOs to arrange for victim assistance. On an ad hoc basis, government ministries also provide temporary shelter and parental counseling to victims before returning them to their families.
Prevention
The Government of Chad continued to make significant efforts to prevent trafficking during the reporting period. The government television station broadcast several anti-trafficking documentaries and the government radio station broadcast a discussion on child exploitation by religious leaders. The government daily newspaper covered stories of child trafficking and the exploitation of children by religious leaders. The Ministries of Justice and Social Action educated key parliamentarians on legal code provisions pertaining to child trafficking and prostitution. Government officials and the High Islamic Council held meetings with religious leaders about forced child labor. The government also conducted several public awareness meetings in southern Chad for local communities on the dangers faced by child herders and domestics. The Ministry of Labor held meetings with local communities in Goundi, Toulala, Doboti, and Koumra, the key source areas for children trafficked into the capital for labor exploitation.
