P R 271232Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY BANGUI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0849
INFO AMEMBASSY BRAZZAVILLE 
AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 
AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 
AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE 
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA 
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 
AMEMBASSY BANGUI

UNCLAS BANGUI 000054 
 
 
AF/C FOR MASHRAF, SSARDAR, SLOPEZ; G/TIP FOR VZEITLIN, AF/RSA 
FOR LMUNCY, PARIS FOR RKANEDA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB CT
SUBJECT: CAR: TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS 2009 REPORT 
 
(U) Overview of CAR's activities to eliminate Trafficking in 
Persons: 
 
¶A. Sources of information 
 
The Ministry of Family and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Labor 
and the Ministry of Justice and some NGOs are the main sources 
of the limited information on trafficking in persons. With 
UNICEF's assistance, the Ministry of Family and Social Affairs, 
and the Ministry of Labor respectively developed a National 
Action Plan for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and the 
Protection for Victims of Abuse in 2007, and conducted a 
nationwide study on Child Labor Related Violence in twelve 
regions out of sixteen in 2008. In the absence of other reliable 
data and estimates on trafficking in person in CAR, these 
sources are reliable. 
 
¶B.  The Central African Republic is a source and destination 
country for children trafficked for force labor and sexual 
exploitation. While the majority of child victims are trafficked 
within the country, some are also trafficked to and from 
Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria, Congo Brazzaville and the Democratic 
Republic of Congo. Children are trafficked for domestic 
servitude, sexual exploitation, and forced labor in shops and 
commercial enterprises. No data or estimates are available as 
the country has no active program to monitor immigration and 
emigration patterns for evidence of trafficking or to screen for 
potential trafficking victims along its borders. Although 
Central African authorities are planning some measures to fight 
the trafficking in persons on their territory, the general 
population does not feel that there is evidence of major 
trafficking networks operating in or throughout the Central 
African Republic. The groups most at risk of being trafficked 
are children for forced labor and girls for sexual exploitation 
in urban centers. 
 
There was no notable change in the TIP destination. However, the 
study conducted on Child Labor Related Violence in twelve 
regions of the country, whose results were published in June 
2008, showing the magnitude of child labor in CAR and its 
consequences was the notable effort during the rated period. 
 
¶C. What kind of conditions are the victims trafficked into? 
 
As noted above, most trafficked children are mainly used for 
domestic servitude, agricultural, mining and commercial 
activities, sometimes by members of their own family. The 
children are initially welcomed in the family for the purpose of 
pursuing their studies, but are later trafficked for labor or 
for the income they generate. This practice is particularly 
notable in the diamond mining sector in the CAR. 
 
¶D. Vulnerability to TIP. 
 
The groups most at risk of being trafficked are children for 
forced labor and girls for sexual exploitation in urban centers. 
 
¶E. Traffickers and methods: 
 
The Central African Republic is a source and destination country 
for children trafficked for forced labor and sexual 
exploitation. While the majority of child victims are trafficked 
within the country, some are also trafficked to and from 
Cameroon, Chad, Congo- Brazzaville, the Democratic Republic of 
Congo, Togo and Nigeria. Children are trafficked for domestic 
servitude, sexual exploitation, and forced labor in shops and 
commercial labor activities. Perpetrators of these types of 
trafficking are usually from the local Nigerian, Cameroonian and 
Togolese business communities. Some victims are from the 
traffickers' family members or sometimes sold by their family. 
 
¶24. SETTING THE SCENE FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S ANTI-TIP EFFORTS. 
 
¶A. The Central African Government acknowledges that trafficking 
in persons is a problem in the country. The Central African 
Government set up an Inter-Ministerial Committee to Fight Child 
Exploitation. This inter-ministerial committee is made of the 
following ministries: Family and Social Affairs, Justice, 
Interior, Agriculture and Rural Development, Defense, 
Communication, National Education, Civil Service and Labor and 
Foreign Affairs. 
 
¶B. The above mentioned inter-ministerial committee has 
responsibility to design the anti-trafficking in person's 
national policy. The Ministry of Family and Social Affairs have 
the leading role in this committee. 
 
¶C. The Central African Government's lack of financial resources 
available for anti-trafficking efforts is the primary constraint 
to address the problem effectively. For instance, the Ministry 
of Justice developed a training program on trafficking in 
persons for its personnel at the National School for 
Administrators and Magistrates in 2005. This program was not 
implemented due to the CAR Government's financial constraints. 
The National Action Plan developed by the Ministry of Family and 
Social Affairs with UNICEF's assistance has been submitted to 
various donors for funding, but it, too, will depend on generous 
outside support if it is to be implemented by the government. 
The government lacks the resources to aid victims. 
 
¶D. As of now, the Central African Government's anti-trafficking 
efforts are limited to the establishment of the 
inter-ministerial committee to fight various forms of 
trafficking in persons, along with one high-profile child 
trafficking arrest and investigation. Some awareness campaigns 
have been conducted by the Ministry of Family and Social 
Affairs. The most recent action is a study on Child Labor 
Related Violence conducted in twelve of 16 regions of the 
country. This study whose results were published in June 2008 
was sponsored by the Ministry of Family and Social Affairs and 
the Ministry of Labor. This study helped understand the 
magnitude of this problem, particularly in mining, agriculture 
and other informal activities. 
 
¶25. INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS. 
 
¶A. Since the last TIP report the Central African Government did 
not enact the legislation under preparation since 2006. The 
draft of the new penal code integrating prohibitions for all 
forms of human trafficking prepared by the ministry of Justice 
was reviewed by a committee of experts, but has still to be 
approved by the council of ministers. 
With regard to law enforcement efforts to combat TIP, the CAR 
entered into bilateral agreement with Cameroon on August 24, 
2006 to combat transnational crime including trafficking in 
persons. At a regional conference held in Abuja, Nigeria in July 
2006, CAR also adopted the ECCAS/ECOWAS Multilateral Agreement 
and an Action Plan to combat TIP. 
 
¶B. Punishment of sex trafficking 
 
The current Central African Penal Code includes law repressing 
various forms of human trafficking and covers both national and 
external forms of trafficking in persons. The penalties are: 
 
Imprisonment from five to ten years in case of rape and forcible 
assault, and when the victim is less than 18 years old, the 
penalty is hard labor. 
 
¶C. Punishment for labor trafficking offenses 
 
Prescribed and imposed penalties include the same penalties for 
trafficking for labor exploitation such as forced or bonded 
labor, and involuntary servitude: five to ten years 
imprisonment. Post has no data on the number of convicted 
persons of trafficking offenses. 
 
¶D. Prescribed penalties for rape or forcible sexual assault 
 
The Central African Penal Code provides for three months to two 
years imprisonment. When the victim is less than 18 years, the 
penalty is three to five years depending on the circumstances. 
 
¶E. Law enforcement statistics 
 
According to the prosecutor, cases against traffickers are rare. 
However, one Nigerian man was arrested in December 2007 with two 
accomplices attempting to buy a girl. Central African 
authorities announced the arrest and investigation of the three 
men on trafficking charges. During 2008, the Criminal Court 
sentenced the Nigerian man to two years prison and his 
accomplices to respectively one year and six months. The current 
penal code was used in this case. 
 
¶F. Specialized training programs for government officials 
 
The Central African Government did not provide any specialized 
training programs for government officials in how to recognize, 
investigate and prosecute instances of trafficking. For 
instance, labor inspectors and other enforcement officials 
constantly reported that they are not provided the resources 
needed to identify and investigate trafficking cases. 
 
¶G. Cooperation with other governments 
 
With the exception of prevention effort at the regional level, 
although the Central African Government signed several regional 
and international conventions to combat trafficking in persons, 
the cooperation with other governments in the investigation and 
prosecution of trafficking remains limited during the reporting 
period. 
 
¶H. Extradition of person charged with trafficking 
 
No one charged with trafficking in persons has been extradited 
to another country from the CAR. However, as result of signing 
several agreements and ratifying many international conventions 
prosecuting various forms of trafficking, Ministry of Justice 
officials claim that the Central African Government will abide 
by these commitments and should extradite traffickers when 
required. 
 
¶I. Evidence of Government involvement 
 
There is no evidence of Central African Government officials' 
involvement or tolerance of trafficking on a local, national, or 
international level. 
 
¶J. N/A 
 
¶K. Prostitution 
 
Prostitution is widely tolerated in the Central African 
Republic, though it is not regulated. Prostitution is not a 
criminal offense under Central African laws, nor is operating a 
brothel. Although prostitution is not regulated, Central African 
laws protect minor of less than 18 years old from engaging in 
prostitution. Any person over 18 years old can freely engage in 
prostitution. 
 
¶L. N/A 
 
¶M. N/A 
 
¶26. PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS 
 
At the exception of the current Penal Code, there is no specific 
law enacted to protect victim and witnesses. 
 
¶B. Victim care facilities 
 
The Ministry of Family and Social Affairs operates a shelter for 
children in distress called Centre de la Mere et de l'Enfant 
with the capacity to house 35 orphans and children in distress. 
Once these children reach the age of five, the government refers 
them to the SOS village d'Enfants and other NGOs. SOS Village 
d'Enfants is active in CAR since 1992. As of today this NGO is 
taking care of 111 children aged from 0 to 20 years old. 
Sometimes children in distress are welcomed by religious 
institutions. It is possible that some of these children are 
victims of TIP. However, there is no evidence that there are 
trafficking victims among them. 
 
The level of funding of private from these organizations is not 
known. 
 
¶C. Services provided to victims. 
 
Due to its financial resources constraints, the Central African 
Government does not provide any form of funding or particular 
support to foreign or domestic NGOs for services to victims. 
 
Paragraphs D&E: Assistance to foreign trafficking victims: No 
such assistance is available. 
 
¶F. N/A 
 
¶G. The total number of trafficking victims is not known. 
 
¶H. At present, the Central African Government does not have any 
formal system of identifying victims of trafficking. The Central 
African government is in the process of modifying the country's 
penal code to include legal specific provisions to repress 
trafficking. In the meantime, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on 
Trafficking adopted a National Action Plan, which has not yet 
been implemented. Major measures in this plan include 
prevention, prosecution and protection of victims. 
 
I .Rights of victims 
 
According to the Ministry of Justice officials, the rights of 
victims are respected. Trafficking victims are not detained, 
jailed, fined nor prosecuted. 
 
¶J. Trafficking victims are encouraged in principle to assist in 
the investigation and prosecution of traffickers. Victims can 
file civil suits to seek damages from traffickers but this is 
rarely done. The Central African Government has no official 
victim restitution program in place. 
 
¶K. Central African Government does not provide at present any 
specialized training in recognizing trafficking for Government 
officials. Central African embassies and consulates personnel in 
foreign countries do not benefit from any training program 
focused on trafficking protection and assistance. 
 
¶L. Central African Government does not provide any assistance to 
its nationals who are repatriated as victims of trafficking. 
 
¶M. There is no international organization or NGOs with such 
specific programs in place. UNICEF is the major international 
organization and principal Central African partner for 
protecting trafficking victims and raising trafficking issues. 
UNICEF assisted the Government in raising awareness on the 
existence of TIP in the Central African Republic and in 
preparing the Government's National Action Plan. The Central 
African authorities cooperated in conducting the first study on 
the issue of trafficking in 2005. Note that UNICEF's financial 
assistance was crucial for the recent study on the Children' 
Labor Related Violence in 12 regions out of 16 of the country 
whose final conclusions report was published in June 2008. 
 
¶27. PREVENTION 
 
¶A. The Central African Government acknowledges that trafficking 
is a problem in the country. During the past years the 
Government took some measures including the set up of an 
Inter-Ministerial Committee to Combat Trafficking of Children. 
The Ministry of Justice drafted a new Penal Code integrating new 
provisions targeting trafficking in persons. The Central African 
Republic entered into agreement with Cameroon on August 24, 
2006, to combat transnational crime including trafficking in 
persons. The CAR adopted also during the same year the 
ECCAS/ECOWAS Multilateral Agreement and Action Plan to combat 
TIP. However, no notable progress was recorded during the 
reporting period in terms of adopting specific law repressing 
TIP. As each year, the major event was the awareness campaign 
organized at the occasion of the celebration of the African 
Children day during the month of June. 
 
Notable new anti-trafficking efforts to be mentioned during the 
reporting period were: 
 
--The publication of the results of study on the Children's 
Labor Related Violence, sponsored by the Ministry of Family and 
Social Affairs and the Ministry of Labor during the month of 
June. This study focused on the child labor in agricultural, 
mining, commercial activities and showed the magnitude of the 
problem and its consequences on the children schooling. 
--A workshop on the new forms of slavery in the Central African 
Republic, organized by l'Observatoire Cerntrafricain des Droits 
de l'Homme, (OCDH) a local NGO active in the promotion of human 
rights in CAR in October 2008. This workshop objective was to 
sensitize selected audiences to the issue and encourage the 
adoption of specific legislation on trafficking in persons. More 
than 120 participants representing key ministries members of the 
Inter-Ministerial Committee to Combat Trafficking of Children, 
National Assembly members and NGOs involved in the human rights 
promotion attended this workshop. 
 
¶B. The Central African Republic has no active program to monitor 
immigration and emigration patterns for evidence of trafficking 
or to screen the potential for trafficking victims along its 
borders. The Central African Government does not fully control 
its land borders at this time, and there is no evidence 
suggesting major trafficking networks are operating in or 
through the Central African Republic. 
 
¶C. Mechanism for coordination and communication: The 
Inter-Ministerial Committee to Fight Child Trafficking, composed 
of 9 ministry representatives, is playing the leading role of 
coordination and communication among various interested partners 
in the fight against trafficking in persons in the CAR. This 
inter-ministerial committee is tasked: 
 
--To lead awareness campaign on the various forms of child 
trafficking; 
--To propose to the CAR Government necessary institutional 
reforms to eradicate child trafficking. 
--The Inter-Ministerial Committee is tasked with working to 
involve other national and international organizations in the 
process including interested NGOs and international partners; 
--To develop and oversee national anti-trafficking efforts in 
the areas of prevention, prosecution and protection. 
 
¶D. Action Plan: The Central African Government adopted an Action 
Plan to Combat Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse including sex 
trafficking in September 2006. It also adopted another Action 
Plan to address the different forms of trafficking in persons. 
This action plan prepared with UNICEF assistance was adopted in 
January 2007 during a special workshop attended by members of 
the inter-ministerial committee as well as interested NGOs. This 
plan has not yet been fully implemented. 
 
¶E. Measures taken to reduce demand for commercial sex acts: the 
Central African Government did not take any particular measure 
to reduce demand for commercial sex acts. 
 
¶F. Measures to reduce participation in international child sex 
tourism by national of the country:  Sex tourism is unknown in 
the CAR. 
 
¶G.  CAR did not contribute any peace keeping troops during the 
rating period. 
 
Post's contact on trafficking is: David Wisner, 
Pol/Econ Officer and Philippe Makendebou, Economic Specialist. 
Tel: 236 61 02 00; Fax: 236 61 44 94. 
Number of hours spent in the preparation of this report by: 
 
POL/ECON Officer: Cameron McGlothlin/David G. Wisner: 10 hours 
ECON Specialist: Philippe Makendebou-Tende: 35 hours 
 
 
COOK