Study on the practice of trafficking in persons in Senegal

This study looks at the nature and extent of trafficking people in Senegal. It also assesses development activities and organisations’ response to trafficking, including the Government of Senegal’s efforts; identifies country level priorities and gaps; and makes a number of policy recommendations in the areas of public awareness, legal reform and law enforcement, civil society, international cooperation and international organisation and donor roles.

Findings from the study include:

• trafficking occurs both within Senegalese borders and internationally to, through, and from Senegal
• specifically, women and children are trafficked for prostitution, sex tourism, domestic labour, or organised begging
• the Government of Senegal (GOS), International Organisations (IO), and local NGOs in Senegal have not implemented programs to directly address the problem of trafficking in persons

The study makes a number of recommendations, including:

• ensure that the GOS, IOs, and NGOs collaborate in the formulation and ongoing implementation and evaluation of human trafficking prevention and awareness campaigns
• adopt specific anti-trafficking legislation and provisions as well as gender and human rights provisions in conformity with international standards
• introduce new domestic legislation through the Presidency, thereby attaching priority, commitment, and political will to the issue
• provide additional training to police officers, judges, and prosecutors in areas such as distinguishing between trafficking and smuggling, protection and assistance possibilities for victims, awareness and implementation of gender and human rights issues, and inter-organisation collaboration regarding data collection mechanisms on these phenomena
• develop measures to encourage and assist birth registration, especially in rural areas where many vulnerable children originate
• conduct regular donor coordination meetings and implement coordination mechanisms between donors to avoid duplication and competition and encourage complementary action.