The U.S. State Department has acknowledged the Dominican Republic’s advancements in combating human trafficking, elevating the country to Tier 2 in its 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report. While this marks a significant improvement, the report emphasizes that the nation still falls short of fully meeting the minimum standards for eradicating human trafficking. Key reforms, such as the amendment of Law 137-03—which eliminates the requirement to prove force, fraud, or coercion in cases involving minors—underscore the government’s intensified efforts. Additionally, authorities have ramped up investigations and prosecutions, identified a greater number of victims, and strengthened labor inspections in high-risk sectors. In 2024 alone, 229 new trafficking investigations were initiated, more than doubling the 99 cases recorded the previous year. Despite these strides, the report highlights persistent challenges, including inadequate focus on forced labor cases, weak protection mechanisms for male and labor victims, and ongoing corruption among public officials. Vulnerable populations, such as stateless individuals and migrants, remain at heightened risk due to insufficient documentation and social services. On a positive note, the Dominican Republic has taken commendable steps, such as suspending companies accused of forced labor, launching a 2025–2028 National Action Plan, and initiating a pilot program for formal migrant worker registration. The U.S. has urged the country to enhance institutional coordination, improve victim detection, and impose stricter penalties on traffickers, while acknowledging that resource constraints and corruption continue to impede full compliance with international standards.
Despite reforms, U.S. says Dominican Republic still fails to meet anti-trafficking standards
