Sierra Leone Still Struggling to Meet Global Standards on Human Trafficking

October 1, 2025

Sierra Leone has once again fallen short of the minimum international standards required to eliminate human trafficking, according to the latest Trafficking in Persons Report. The country remains on Tier 2 for 2025, meaning it is making progress but still faces major gaps.

The report acknowledged some improvements, including the first convictions of traffickers in two years, more victims being identified, and the adoption of a revised National Action Plan. The government also boosted funding for prevention programs.

Despite these gains, several challenges persist. Fewer investigations were carried out compared to the previous year, victim services—especially for men—remain extremely limited, and the national anti-trafficking hotline is not functional. Cross-border cooperation with neighboring countries has also been weak.

The report urged Sierra Leone to strengthen protection for all victims, launch more investigations and prosecutions with strong penalties, and provide additional training for police, prosecutors, and judges under the 2022 Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act. It also called for better regional collaboration and more reliable data collection.

Human trafficking continues to pose a serious threat in the country, with victims exploited in sectors such as mining, agriculture, fishing, and domestic work. Vulnerable groups—especially children, migrants, and women seeking work abroad—remain most at risk.