Global Issues

Gabon

• Destination and transit country for children and women from Benin, Nigeria, Togo, Mali, Guinea, and other West African countries who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking.

• Some victims transit Gabon en route to Equatorial Guinea.

• Rape was believed to be widespread.

• According to the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, it’s difficult to obtain information on domestic violence against women, including marital rape, in the country.

• Discussing rape is taboo.

• Only limited medical and legal assistance for rape victims was available.

 

Advocacy:

• Government workers identify victims of trafficking among vulnerable groups and referred them systematically to government or NGO shelters.

 

Sources: U.S. Department of State 2010 Human Rights Report, U.S. Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report 2011