to suspected trafficking cases. The government continued to and the Ministry of Labor coordinated with an international NAMIBIA operate facilities in more than 215 police stations and 22 organization to train 25 labor inspectors for the first time ever “Victims of Violence” centers throughout the country offering on the international legal framework on trafficking, trafficking temporary shelter, food, limited counseling, and monitoring indicators for labor exploitation, and the referral process to following reintegration for victims of crime; however, it remained ensure victims receive protective services. In coordination with unclear whether trafficking victims benefited from these services an international organization, the government liaised with two in 2017. The Attorney General’s Office convened relevant airlines identified as transporting labor migrants traveling on government stakeholders to assess and coordinate their joint falsified visas to prevent further travel. Mozambican officials efforts to address victims’ needs in several specific cases during remained without effective policies or laws regulating foreign the reporting period. The technical working group on victim recruiters and holding them civilly and criminally liable for protection, a sub-group of the NRG consisting of prosecutors fraudulent recruiting. The government did not demonstrate at the provincial level, child and social services and department tangible efforts to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts of health personnel, police officers and two international or forced labor during the year. NGOs, held a conference to discuss current trafficking cases, an outcome of which was improved coordination between the NRG and provincial and district-level front-line responders TRAFFICKING PROFILE to ensure better oversight and monitoring of trafficking cases. As reported over the past five years, Mozambique is a source, The anti-trafficking law required police protection for victims transit, and, to a lesser extent, destination country for men, who participated as witnesses in criminal proceedings against women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex traffickers, and the government provided such assistance to one trafficking. The use of forced child labor occurs in agriculture, victim during the reporting period. In at least one case, the NRG mining, and market vending in rural areas, often with the proactively sought translation services for a non-Portuguese complicity of family members. In addition to voluntary migrants speaking victim. Although Mozambican law provided for from neighboring countries, women and girls from rural areas, temporary residency status or legal alternatives to the removal lured to cities in Mozambique or South Africa with promises of of foreign victims to countries where they might face hardship employment or education, are exploited in domestic servitude or retribution, the government did not use this provision during and sex trafficking. Mozambican girls are exploited in bars, the reporting period. roadside clubs, overnight stopping points, and restaurants along the southern transport corridor that links Maputo with Eswatini and South Africa. Child sex trafficking is of growing PREVENTION concern in Maputo, Beira, Chimoio, Tete, and Nacala, which The government increased efforts to prevent trafficking. The have highly mobile populations and large numbers of truck NRG met at least three times during the reporting period to drivers. As workers and economic migrants seek employment in coordinate anti-trafficking efforts at the national level. The the growing extractive industries in Tete and Cabo Delgado, they NRG revised and approved updated terms of reference for the increase the demand for sexual services, potentially including group and finalized and approved its 2017 work plan, which child sex trafficking. Mozambican men and boys are subjected outlined training for labor inspectors and consular officers. A to forced labor on South African farms and mines where they sub-group of 15 NRG members finalized the development of often labor for months without pay under coercive conditions supporting documents to the NRM, which were adopted by the before being turned over to police for deportation as illegal NRG. The NRG drafted standard operating procedures for the migrants. Mozambican boys migrate to Eswatini to wash cars, NRG and implementation of the NRM; however, these were not herd livestock, and sell goods; some subsequently become finalized or adopted during the reporting period. In October victims of forced labor. Mozambican adults and girls are 2017, in partnership with an international organization, the subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking in Angola, Italy, government held public consultations on the draft national and Portugal. Persons with albinism, including children, are action plan in two provinces that were attended by the Deputy increasingly vulnerable to trafficking for the purpose of organ Prosecutor General, members of the national and provincial removal. Informal networks typically comprise Mozambican reference groups, local government officials, civil society and or South African traffickers. South Asian smugglers who move journalists; however, the national action plan was not passed undocumented South Asian migrants throughout Africa also during the reporting period. Provincial-level reference groups, reportedly transport trafficking victims through Mozambique. consisting of local officials, police, border guards, social workers, Previous reports allege traffickers bribe officials to move victims NGOs, and faith-based organizations, carried out awareness within the country and across national borders to South Africa campaigns to educate the public in urban and rural areas and and Eswatini. coordinated regional efforts to address trafficking and other crimes. In August 2017, in partnership with an international organization, the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic (PGR) trained 26 members of the Niassa Reference Group on NAMIBIA: TIER 2 the international and national legal framework on trafficking. The government continued to participate in the Southern The Government of Namibia does not fully meet the minimum African Development Community (SADC) regional data standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making collection tool by uploading trafficking cases, victim and significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated trafficker profiles, and sharing information with countries in increasing efforts compared to the previous reporting period, the region. Through its participation in the data tool, UNODC therefore Namibia remained on Tier 2. The government and SADC launched the first annual draft analysis report for demonstrated increasing efforts by signing the Combating the region. In partnership with international organizations, of Trafficking in Persons Bill; prosecuting more traffickers; for the first time the government trained 25 labor inspectors identifying more trafficking victims the majority of whom on trafficking victim identification and referral. Members of were victims of forced labor; and referring some victims to care the NRG participated in TV and radio debates on World Day in a partially government-funded NGO shelter. However, the Against Human Trafficking. In September 2017, the PGR 315 government did not meet the minimum standards in several immigration officers and in-service personnel. The government key areas. The government did not convict any traffickers for provided advanced training on investigation methods to police the second consecutive year; did not refer all identified victims in the High Profile Crime Division, those responsible for to care; and continued to lack formal procedures for victim investigating all potential trafficking crimes, and prosecutors identification and referral. likely to encounter trafficking victims. The government provided anti-trafficking training to an unknown number of law enforcement officers in three police colleges during the reporting period. The High Profile Crime Unit trained student social workers at the University of Namibia on victim NAMIBIA identification. The government did not report any investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of government employees complicit in human trafficking offenses. PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NAMIBIA The government maintained efforts to protect trafficking Adopt and implement the draft national mechanism to identify victims. The government identified 21 trafficking victims, victims and refer them to care; increase funding and efforts to including 11 adult male victims, one adult female victim, provide care to trafficking victims; increase efforts to investigate, and nine female child victims, and referred five victims to an prosecute, and convict traffickers; gazette and implement the NGO shelter, which was partially government-funded. This Combating of Trafficking in Persons Bill; finalize and implement was compared to 12 victims identified and referred in 2016. a new national action plan to guide anti-trafficking efforts; Fifteen victims were exploited in forced labor and six were sex train officials on relevant legislation; strengthen coordination trafficking victims. The government did not have formal written among government ministries at both the ministerial and procedures for use by all officials on victim identification and working level; and increase efforts to raise public awareness, referral to care; however, the government created a checklist