Antigua and Barbuda has failed to secure a single conviction for human trafficking since enacting its anti-trafficking legislation in 2010, according to the 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report. This alarming statistic has led international observers to criticize the nation for fostering a culture of impunity. Despite investigating 13 suspects across nine trafficking cases in the past year, no prosecutions or convictions were recorded. The report highlights systemic issues such as weak investigative capabilities, legal system corruption, and insufficient resources as key barriers to justice. Penalties under the law are severe, ranging from 20 years’ imprisonment for adult trafficking to 25 years for crimes against children, yet these measures remain unenforced. Court backlogs, limited financial and human resources, and the small size of the Eastern Caribbean state further complicate efforts to protect victim-witnesses, many of whom are reluctant to testify due to inadequate safeguards. While the government has made strides in prevention through public awareness campaigns and a new National Action Plan, the absence of prosecutions underscores a significant gap between policy and practice. The report also noted that no government employees have been investigated or prosecuted for complicity in trafficking crimes, raising concerns about accountability. Antigua and Barbuda’s continued Tier 2 ranking in the report acknowledges its efforts but emphasizes the urgent need for tangible results in combating human trafficking.
U.S. says Antigua and Barbuda has never secured a conviction for human trafficking since law passed in 2010
