The government maintained prevention efforts. The IMC continued to lead the government’s anti-trafficking efforts and convened at least twice. The government had a 2021-2024 NAP. The government reported it completed its review of an updated NAP, initiated in the previous reporting period, which was pending adoption at the end of the reporting period. In partnership with a labor union, the government trained English-speaking journalists on issues related to human trafficking. The IMC organized awareness-raising activities in schools for students, teachers, and administrative staff and reported providing in-kind and financial resources to NGO-run awareness campaigns. In partnership with an international organization and NGOs, the government, conducted awareness campaigns on the dangers of child labor in the mining sector. Authorities also advertised its anti-trafficking campaign and posted information at airports, and transportation hubs in Yaounde and Douala. The government continued its awareness campaign to eliminate child labor in the cocoa sector. MINAS continued to operate a trafficking-specific hotline; the government did not report if any victims were identified or if cases were referred to law enforcement due to hotline calls. The Cameroon Human Rights Commission and the gendarmerie also operated hotlines to report human rights violations and abuses, including human trafficking.
In partnership with an international organization, the government trained security forces on child soldier-related issues and reporting procedures to prevent the recruitment or use of children. The government did not effectively regulate foreign labor recruiters or report taking measures to hold fraudulent labor recruiters accountable. The government did not report auditing any companies or private labor placement offices. Observers reported Cameroonians frequently used unauthorized recruiters to seek employment abroad, which increased their vulnerability to trafficking. The government initiated negotiations on bilateral labor agreements with France, Belgium, and Saudi Arabia to enhance protections of migrant workers. The government continued to conduct labor inspections, particularly in the mining sector, to enforce laws against child labor; however, the government did not report identifying any trafficking victims during these inspections or investigating any potential violations.
The lack of birth certificates increased the vulnerability of individuals to trafficking. A previous report estimated at least 1.6 million children enrolled in schools did not have birth certificates. An NGO attributed the lack of birth certificates to internal and external problems faced by the government such as poor record keeping, staff shortage, and the violence and insecurity in the Northwest and Southwest regions. The government reported conducting three months of pre-deployment anti-trafficking training to its troops prior to their deployment as peacekeepers. The government reported providing anti-trafficking training to 106 members of its diplomatic personnel. The government made some efforts to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts, including criminalizing elements such as soliciting. The government launched an awareness campaign targeting government officials, community leaders, and hotel managers on extraterritorial child sexual exploitation and abuse.
from 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report – U.S. Department of State
2024 Trafficking in Persons Report – United States Department of State
