Trafficking in Persons Interim Assessment - Cote d'Ivoire

[From the introductory text accompanying this report on the U.S. Department of State website: "In most cases, the Interim Assessment is intended to serve as a tool by which to gauge the anti-trafficking progress of countries that may be in danger of slipping a tier in the upcoming June 2010 TIP Report and to give them guidance on how to avoid a Tier 3 ranking. It is a tightly focused progress report, assessing the concrete actions a government has taken to address the key deficiencies highlighted in the June 2009 TIP Report. The Interim Assessment covers actions undertaken between the beginning of May – the cutoff for data covered in the June TIP Report – and November. Readers are requested to refer to the annual TIP Report for an analysis of large-scale efforts and a description of the trafficking problem in each particular country or territory."]

The Government of Cote d'Ivoire has demonstrated some progress to combat trafficking in persons since the release of the 2009 Report. In June 2009, Ivorian police participated in an Interpol-funded anti-trafficking raid on agricultural farms, primarily those growing cocoa and palm, in the Aboisso area. Police uncovered more than 50 children working on the farms but ultimately determined that only four were trafficking victims. Officials returned three victims to their families and referred one to the Ministry of Family for care. Eight suspected traffickers were detained as a result of the raid; all were released after questioning. In July 2009, the government launched a new program to address child labor exploitation in the cocoa sector.

The government has not developed systematic procedures for identifying trafficking victims among women and girls in prostitution. Moreover, the government has not taken steps to ensure that victims are not penalized for acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked. Although the National Anti-Trafficking Action Plan calls for the construction of five trafficking shelters using funds allocated for this effort, the government has not yet disbursed the funds. The government constructed one shelter in Southeastern Cote d'Ivoire using funds provided by the Aboisso General Council. The facility is not yet functional, however, due to lack of equipment, such as furniture and light fixtures. The Aboisso General Council also funded vocational training for 16 trafficking victims.