Trafficking in persons Mali, in 13 editions.

current situation:
Mali is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; within Mali, women and girls are forced into domestic servitude, agricultural labor, and support roles in gold mines, as well as subjected to sex trafficking; Malian boys are found in conditions of forced labor in agricultural settings, gold mines, and the informal commercial sector, as well as forced begging both within Mali mali and neighboring countries; boys from Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, Malians and other countries Africans who travel through Mali to Mauritania, Algeria, or Libya, in hopes of reaching Europe are forced into begging and exploited for labor; adult particularly at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking; men and boys, primarily of Songhai ethnicity, are subjected to the longstanding practice of debt bondage in the salt mines of Taoudenni in northern Mali; some members of Mali's black Tamachek community are subjected to traditional slavery-related practices rooted in hereditary master-slave relationships, practices, and this involuntary servitude reportedly has extended to their children
tier rating:
Tier 2 Watch List - the Government of Mali does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government acknowledged that human trafficking is a problem in Mali, but it did not demonstrate significant efforts to prosecute and convict trafficking offenders; although Mali was not placed on Tier 3 because the government identified at least 198 trafficking victims during has a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with the year - 152 minimum standards for the elimination of whom were Malian children in prostitution - it prosecuted only three trafficking cases and convicted two trafficking offenders (2011) is devoting sufficient resources to implement that plan (2012)

current situation:
Mali is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; women and girls are forced into domestic servitude, agricultural labor, and support roles in gold mines, as well as subjected to sex trafficking; Malian boys are found in conditions of forced labor in agricultural settings, gold mines, and the informal commercial sector, as well as forced begging both within mali Mali and neighboring countries; Malians and other Africans who travel through Mali to Mauritania, Algeria, or Libya, Libya in hopes of reaching Europe are particularly at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking; men and boys, primarily of Songhai ethnicity, are subjected to the longstanding practice of debt bondage in the salt mines of Taoudenni in northern Mali; some members of Mali's black Tamachek community are subjected to traditional slavery-related practices, and this involuntary servitude reportedly has extended to their children; reports indicate that non-governmental armed groups operating in northern Mali recruited children as combatants, cooks, porters, guards, spies, and sex slaves
tier rating:
Tier 2 Watch List - the Government of Mali does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; although the government acknowledged that human trafficking is enacted a problem comprehensive anti-trafficking law in Mali, but 2012, it did not demonstrate significant evidence of overall increasing efforts to address human trafficking over the previous year; the government has failed to prosecute and or convict any trafficking offenders; Mali was offenders, has not placed on Tier 3 because provided any direct services to victims, and has not made any tangible prevention efforts; the government has a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute making significant efforts continues to bring itself into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination cite a lack of trafficking personnel and is devoting sufficient resources as reasons for its inability to implement that plan (2012) adequately identify and rescue child victims of forced labor in the mining industry (2013)

current situation:
Mali is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; women and girls are forced into domestic servitude, agricultural labor, and support roles in gold mines, as well as subjected to sex trafficking; Malian boys are found in conditions of forced labor in agricultural settings, gold mines, and the informal commercial sector, as well as forced begging both within Mali and neighboring countries; Malians and other Africans who travel through Mali to Mauritania, Algeria, or Libya in hopes of reaching Europe are particularly at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking; men and boys, primarily of Songhai ethnicity, are subjected to the longstanding practice of debt bondage in the salt mines of Taoudenni in northern Mali; some members of Mali's black Tamachek community are subjected to traditional slavery-related practices, and this involuntary servitude reportedly has extended to their children; reports indicate that non-governmental armed groups operating there has been a decrease in northern Mali recruited the recruitment of Malian children as combatants, cooks, porters, guards, spies, and sex slaves by non-governmental armed groups in northern Mali
tier rating:
Tier 2 Watch List - Mali does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; although the government enacted a comprehensive anti-trafficking law in 2012, it did not demonstrate evidence of overall increasing efforts to address human trafficking over the previous year; the government has failed to prosecute or convict any trafficking offenders, has offenders because the law had not provided yet been distributed to judges and a significant lack of awareness of the law within the judiciary remained; authorities did not provide any direct services to victims, victims and has did not made make any tangible prevention efforts; the government continues to cite a lack of personnel and resources as reasons for its inability NGOs provided care to adequately identify and rescue child victims of forced labor in the mining industry (2013) without government funding; no awareness-raising campaigns or anti-trafficking training were carried out (2014)

current situation: Mali is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; internal trafficking is more prevalent than transnational trafficking, but foreign women and girls are forced into domestic servitude, agricultural labor, and support roles in gold mines, as well as subjected to sex trafficking; Malian boys are found in conditions of forced labor to work in agricultural settings, gold mines, and the informal commercial sector, as well as forced begging sector and to beg within Mali and neighboring countries; Malians and other Africans who travel through Mali to Mauritania, Algeria, or Libya in hopes of reaching Europe are particularly at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking; men and boys, primarily of Songhai ethnicity, are subjected to the longstanding practice of debt bondage in the salt mines of Taoudenni in northern Mali; some members of Mali's black Tamachek community are subjected to traditional hereditary slavery-related practices, practices; Malian women and this involuntary servitude reportedly has extended to their children; there has been a decrease girls are victims of sex trafficking in Gabon, Libya, Lebanon, and Tunisia; the recruitment of Malian children as combatants, cooks, porters, guards, spies, and sex slaves child soldiers by non-governmental armed groups in northern Mali decreased
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Mali does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; although the in 2014, Mali was granted a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because its government enacted has a comprehensive anti-trafficking law in 2012, it did not demonstrate evidence of overall increasing written plan that, if implemented would constitute making significant efforts to address human trafficking over bring itself into compliance with the previous year; minimum standards for the government elimination of trafficking; officials failed to prosecute or convict any trafficking offenders because distribute the 2012 anti-trafficking law had not yet been distributed to judges judicial and law enforcement personnel, perpetuating a significant lack of understanding and awareness of the legislation; anti-trafficking law within the judiciary remained; authorities did not provide any direct services to enforcement efforts decreased in 2014, with only one case investigated and no prosecutions or convictions; fewer victims were identified, and the government did not make any tangible prevention efforts; support the privately funded NGOs provided care and international organizations it relied upon to provide victims without with services; the government funding; no did not conduct any awareness-raising campaigns campaigns, workshops, or anti-trafficking training were carried out (2014) sessions (2015)

current situation: Mali is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; internal trafficking is more prevalent than transnational trafficking, but foreign women and girls are forced into domestic servitude, agricultural labor, and support roles in gold mines, as well as subjected to sex trafficking; Malian boys are found in conditions of forced to work labor in agricultural settings, gold mines, and the informal commercial sector and to beg within sector, as well as forced begging in Mali and neighboring countries; Malians and other Africans who travel through Mali to Mauritania, Algeria, or Libya in hopes of reaching Europe are particularly at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking; men and boys, primarily of Songhai ethnicity, are subjected to debt bondage in the salt mines of Taoudenni in northern Mali; some members of Mali's Tamachek Tuareg community are subjected to hereditary traditional slavery-related practices; Malian women and girls are victims of sex trafficking in Gabon, Libya, Lebanon, practices, and Tunisia; the recruitment of child soldiers by this involuntary servitude reportedly has extended to their children; reports indicate that non-governmental armed groups operating in northern Mali decreased recruited children as combatants, cooks, porters, guards, spies, and sex slaves; slaveholders use some members of the Tuareg community in hereditary servitude where communities rather than individuals or families exploit the enslaved
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - — Mali does not fully comply with meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, Mali was granted a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because its government has a written plan that, if implemented would constitute making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance included prosecuting hereditary slavery cases, increasing convictions, continuing training and awareness raising activities, releasing all children associated with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; officials failed to distribute the 2012 anti-trafficking law Malian armed forces (FAMa) to judicial and an international organization for care, training law enforcement personnel, perpetuating a lack of understanding and awareness officials on protection of the legislation; anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts decreased children in 2014, with only one case investigated and no prosecutions or convictions; fewer victims were identified, armed conflict, identifying 215 children used by armed groups and referring them to international organizations for care; however, the government did not support stop all use of children in the privately funded NGOs and international organizations it relied upon FAMa; the government continued to provide victims support to and collaborate with services; the government Imghad Tuareg and the Allies Self-Defense Group, which recruited and used child soldiers; authorities did not conduct investigate any awareness-raising campaigns, workshops, suspects for child soldier offenses or make efforts to prevent it; law enforcement lacked resources and training sessions (2015) about human trafficking; services for victims remained insufficient; therefore, Mali was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List (2020)

current situation: tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Mali does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; government efforts included prosecuting hereditary slavery cases, increasing convictions, continuing training and awareness raising activities, releasing all children associated with the Malian armed forces (FAMa) to an international organization for care, training law enforcement officials on protection of children in armed conflict, identifying 215 children used by armed groups and referring them to international organizations for care; however, the government did not stop all use of children in the FAMa; the government continued to provide support to and collaborate with the Imghad Tuareg and the Allies Self-Defense Group, which recruited and used child soldiers; authorities did not investigate any suspects for child soldier offenses or make efforts to prevent it; law enforcement lacked resources and training about human trafficking; services for victims remained insufficient; therefore, Mali was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List (2020)
trafficking profile: Mali is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; women and girls are forced into domestic servitude, agricultural labor, and support roles in gold mines, as well as subjected to sex trafficking; Malian boys are found in conditions of forced labor in agricultural settings, gold mines, and the informal commercial sector, as well as forced begging in Mali and neighboring countries; Malians and other Africans who travel through Mali to Mauritania, Algeria, or Libya in hopes of reaching Europe are particularly at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking; men and boys, primarily of Songhai ethnicity, are subjected to debt bondage in the salt mines of Taoudenni in northern Mali; some members of Mali's Tuareg community are subjected to traditional slavery-related practices, and this involuntary servitude reportedly has extended to their children; reports indicate that non-governmental armed groups operating in northern Mali recruited children as combatants, cooks, porters, guards, spies, and sex slaves; slaveholders use some members of the Tuareg community in hereditary servitude where communities rather than individuals or families exploit the enslaved
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Mali does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; government efforts included prosecuting hereditary slavery cases, increasing convictions, continuing training and awareness raising activities, releasing all children associated with the Malian armed forces (FAMa) to an international organization for care, training law enforcement officials on protection of children in armed conflict, identifying 215 children used by armed groups and referring them to international organizations for care; however, the government did not stop all use of children in the FAMa; the government continued to provide support to and collaborate with the Imghad Tuareg and the Allies Self-Defense Group, which recruited and used child soldiers; authorities did not investigate any suspects for child soldier offenses or make efforts to prevent it; law enforcement lacked resources and training about human trafficking; services for victims remained insufficient; therefore, Mali was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List (2020)