The government increased victim protection efforts. The government identified 42 trafficking victims in 2021, compared with 199 victims identified in 2020, of which 140 were identified in two cases. The government also identified an additional 174 potential trafficking victims. The government reported referring all 216 trafficking victims and potential victims to care, which is comparable with previous years. The Zambia Police Service and Department of Social Welfare (DSW) jointly conducted enforcement operations in brothels where families exploited their children in sex trafficking, resulting in the identification of 85 child victims in the previous reporting period. This case was still under investigation at the end of the reporting period.
The government revised and operationalized its NRM during the reporting period with the assistance of an international organization. When victims were identified, the DSW received victim referrals, conducted assessments, and facilitated victims’ access to services provided by NGOs, international organizations, and the government. While use of the NRM reportedly increased in 2021, some front-line officials and NGOs neglected to use proper procedures to identify and refer victims to care, particularly in rural areas, which resulted in delays for victims obtaining services and benefits, including immigration documentation. The government, in partnership with an international organization, continued to disseminate an updated standard victim identification form to better guide front-line officials in proactively identifying trafficking victims; however, wider dissemination and training on the use of different forms was needed.
The government partnered with NGOs and international organizations to offer routine assistance to both foreign and domestic potential victims, including shelter, basic needs, medical care, counseling, and other protection services. Foreign victims were entitled to the same benefits as Zambian victims. The Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS) operated one 40-person shelter in Luapula Province and other shelters in Central and Western Provinces. Shelters were typically designated for survivors of gender-based violence or child abuse but were made available to trafficking victims. Most shelters only assisted women and children, but some accommodated adult male victims of trafficking. Shelters across the country, especially in rural areas outside Lusaka and Copperbelt Provinces, continued to lack training for shelter and victim support officers, resources, and funding, as well as available space, education opportunities, and integration services for victims. The government developed guidelines to operationalize the Anti-Human Trafficking Fund as designated by law; however, the guidelines remained pending approval at the end of the reporting period. With assistance from an international organization, the government developed standard operating procedures (SOPs) and guidelines for shelters; however, the guidelines awaited final approval by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security (MHA) at the end of the reporting period. The government allocated 282,846 Zambian kwacha ($17,010) to support four government-operated shelters in 2021, the same amount as the previous year.
The government reported it proactively screened detained migrants for trafficking and referred identified victims to care based on the NRM. The government did not report the number of victims identified in immigration detention facilities or if victims were still detained alongside potential traffickers, as in previous years. The government reported children were no longer detained alongside adults in immigration detention facilities. In 2021, 59 victims cooperated with law enforcement on investigations and prosecutions of traffickers, which was not required to access protection services. The government increased opportunities for victim testimony via video or written statements and assisted in protecting victims’ identities. The Department of Immigration (DOI) provided temporary immigration status for all foreign victims in accordance with the 2008 trafficking law, which was dependent on cooperation with law enforcement, and offered a legal alternative to the removal of victims to countries where they may face hardship or retribution. The government did not report the number of victims who received immigration remedies. Additionally, the pandemic caused logistical difficulties and delays in repatriating victims during the reporting period. The government reported interpretation services were provided free of charge to victims; however, the lack of interpreters available continued to be a barrier to providing timely and comprehensive care for victims. The government did not report any court orders of restitution for trafficking victims during the reporting period. The government provided legal assistance through legal aid organizations for victims, including foreign nationals, through a witness management fund by the National Prosecution Authority.