Liberia will host the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Ms. Siobhán Mullally, from December 9 to 18, 2024.
Her visit comes as Liberia faces rising concerns over human trafficking, particularly the exploitation of women and children for labor and domestic servitude.
Ms. Mullally’s visit will focus on assessing Liberia’s anti-trafficking efforts and identifying gaps in enforcement. The country’s placement on the U.S. State Department’s Tier 2 Watch List highlights its ongoing struggle to meet international standards for combatting trafficking. Key issues expected to be addressed include fraudulent adoptions, child exploitation in rubber plantations and mining, and the limited rehabilitation of trafficking victims.
During her visit, Ms. Mullally will meet with key government officials, including those from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, and the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force. She will also engage with civil society organizations, the Liberia National Police, and international partners, including the United Nations Country Team. Field visits to Bong County and Ganta, Nimba County, will allow her to observe local anti-trafficking measures and directly engage with affected communities.
The visit is timely, as Liberia’s socio-economic challenges—compounded by a history of civil conflict, poverty, and weak state institutions—have left vulnerable populations, particularly children, highly susceptible to exploitation. As much as 58% of Liberia’s population lives in poverty, creating an environment where children are trafficked for domestic servitude, agricultural labor, and sexual exploitation.
Atty. J. Alben Greaves, a Liberian scholar, argues that factors such as extreme poverty, the cultural fostering system, and weak law enforcement significantly contribute to Liberia’s trafficking crisis. His research, Hidden Exploitation? A Critical Analysis of Child Trafficking for Purposes of Labor Exploitation and Domestic Servitude in Liberia outlines how traffickers exploit children under the guise of providing better opportunities, only to subject them to forced labor and abuse.
Liberia’s legacy of civil war and the disruption of family structures, combined with economic setbacks like the Ebola outbreak and the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, have exacerbated vulnerabilities to trafficking. The exploitation of children in the mining and rubber industries remains a persistent issue, with children trafficked into these sectors for cheap labor.
Ms. Mullally’s visit will also aim to raise awareness about human trafficking, including the cultural practice of fostering, which often leads to exploitation. By engaging with community leaders, she will encourage preventative measures and empower local communities to recognize and address trafficking.
The visit represents an opportunity for Liberia to reassess its anti-trafficking strategies and adopt international best practices. Ms. Mullally’s final report, expected in June 2025, will provide recommendations for strengthening Liberia’s legislative and institutional frameworks, improving victim rehabilitation, and closing enforcement gaps.
