Antigua and Barbuda has retained its Tier 2 status in the U.S. government’s 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report, highlighting both advancements and shortcomings in the nation’s fight against human trafficking. While the country has made strides in prevention, training, and safeguarding vulnerable foreign workers, it continues to face significant challenges in prosecuting traffickers and protecting victims. The report acknowledged the adoption of a new National Action Plan and enhanced training for first responders but emphasized that the country has yet to secure a single conviction under its 2010 Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act. In 2024, authorities investigated 13 suspects across nine cases, a notable decline from the previous year’s 26 suspects in 25 cases. Despite these investigations, no prosecutions were initiated, and no convictions were made. Observers pointed to systemic issues such as weak investigative capacity, corruption within the legal system, and inadequate witness protection as key barriers to justice. Additionally, the government has struggled with victim identification, failing to formally confirm any trafficking victims since 2019. While awareness campaigns have expanded to include multiple languages, overall funding for anti-trafficking initiatives has decreased. Efforts to review contracts of Cuban government-affiliated workers have been initiated, but oversight of Chinese-linked labor projects remains limited. The Tier 2 designation reflects Antigua and Barbuda’s ongoing efforts but underscores the need for substantial improvements to meet international standards.
Antigua and Barbuda Stays on Tier 2 on 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report
