A United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons has issued a dire warning about the widespread and underreported issue of human trafficking in Liberia. Ms. Siobhán Mullally highlighted the vulnerability of children, women, and persons with disabilities to various forms of exploitation and underscored the urgent need for systemic reforms to combat trafficking.
Liberia’s internal trafficking is expressively underreported, with limited data on its prevalence and forms. According to the U.N. official, rural children, particularly girls, face high risks of being trafficked to urban areas for sexual exploitation. Poverty, weak child protection systems, and entrenched gender inequality exacerbate these vulnerabilities. Women and girls in high-risk sectors such as domestic work, agriculture, mining, and fisheries are often forced into labor or sexual exploitation.
Ms. Mullally criticized the lack of disability-inclusive measures to combat trafficking. Information on assistance and protection services and prevention efforts is rarely accessible to persons with disabilities. She called for urgent reforms to ensure inclusivity and strengthen Liberia’s response to trafficking.
The inadequate availability of safe homes and emergency shelters for trafficking victims remains a critical issue. Long-term assistance is scarce, leaving victims vulnerable upon returning to their communities, often without follow-up due to limited resources and capacity. Rural areas where trafficking is more prevalent are particularly underserved. Strengthening the capacity of human rights monitors, labor commissioners, and border agents to identify and address trafficking cases is imperative.
Ms. Mullally also raised concerns about trafficking along migration routes through neighbouring countries such as Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Côte d’Ivoire, as well as to the Middle East and Europe. Young people are often lured by false promises of jobs or education abroad, falling victim to forced labor, domestic servitude, and sexual exploitation. Survivors of trafficking have emphasized the need for robust prevention, protection, and accountability measures.
Access to remedies for survivors remains limited. Short-term assistance, often provided by international partners, is insufficient, while longer-term support is virtually nonexistent. Shelters and victim services are unavailable at key border points, and resources for conducting risk assessments and victim interviews are lacking. Health workers at border crossings often lack the training to identify trafficking victims or provide immediate support.
Cross-border trafficking into Liberia, particularly of children and young women, is another pressing concern. Victims are often exploited for forced labor and sexual purposes. Although Liberia has established government-run safe homes for victims, the lack of resources for medical, psychosocial, and long-term support remains a significant gap.
In the labor sector, trafficking for forced labor is rampant. Ms. Mullally urged businesses to address exploitation in supply chains, particularly in high-risk areas like mining, fisheries, and agriculture. Illegal mining operations and the absence of oversight have created a breeding ground for child and forced labor. The Special Rapporteur also noted the risks of exploitation faced by migrant workers in these sectors, compounded by weak labor inspections and limited access to interpreters.
Children are especially vulnerable to trafficking disguised as caregiving or education opportunities. Liberia’s weak child protection systems, limited access to quality education, and prevalence of “sex-for-grades” in schools contribute to these risks. While efforts like the Ministry of Education’s “Back to My Classroom” campaign have shown promise, more resources are needed to protect and support children, particularly in rural areas.
Birth registration and school feeding programs are vital tools in preventing child trafficking. However, irregular border crossings and limited training among border agents make it difficult to monitor and prevent child trafficking. Children with disabilities are particularly at risk of exploitation, with little support for long-term assistance or protection.
Ms. Mullally called for urgent reforms to ensure that anti-trafficking measures are inclusive of persons with disabilities. She noted that disability-focused organizations are often excluded from anti-trafficking initiatives and highlighted the unique vulnerabilities of children with disabilities to sexual exploitation and forced labor.
Meanwhile, Liberia’s commitments to international conventions, such as the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, must be fully implemented to address these concerns. Ms. Mullally’s report serves as a clarion call for comprehensive action to tackle the pervasive issue of human trafficking and protect Liberia’s most vulnerable populations.
