TRAFFICKING LAWS OF THE WORLD

This page provides links to the trafficking laws and policies of the following countries (updated as of 2 February 2010):

ALBANIA

Law No. 9188, 12 February 2004 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

ALGERIA

Law No. 09-01 of 25 February 2009 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

ARGENTINA

Resolution No. 746/2007 of 13 July 2007 of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights [creates a Program for the Prevention of Trafficking].

Law No. 26364 of 29 April 2008 [combats trafficking].

 

Decree No. 1281/2007 of 2 October 2007 [creates the National Program for the Prevention and Eradication of Trafficking in Persons and for Assistance to Victims].

ARMENIA

Law of 9 June 2004 amending the Criminal Code [amends the Criminal Code with respect to trafficking].

Law of 1 June 2006 [amends the Criminal Code with respect to trafficking]. 

AUSTRALIA

Crimes Legislation Amendment (People Smuggling, Firearms Trafficking and Other Measures) Act 2002 (Act No. 141 of 2002).

Criminal Code Amendment (Trafficking in Persons Offences) Act 2005, Act No. 96 of 2005.

AUSTRIA

Criminal Law Amendment Act 2004, 1 March 2004 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

AZERBAIJAN

Law on the Fight against Human Trafficking, June 2005.

BANGLADESH

Prevention of Women and Child Repression Act 2000.

BELARUS

Regulation No. 1636 of 8 November 2001 on the State Programme of Comprehensive Measures for Combatting Trafficking in Persons and the Spread of Prostitution for 2002-2007.

Law No. 15-3 of 4 May 2005 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

Presidential Decree No. 3 of 9 March 2005 on certain measures to combat trafficking in persons.

Decree No 352 of 8 August 2005 on Prevention of the Consequences of Trafficking in Human Beings.

BELGIUM

Law of 13 April 2005, as amended through 2005 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking]. 

Circular of 26 September 2008 on the implementation of multidisciplinary cooperation with respect to the victims of human trafficking.

BELIZE

Families and Children Act, 1998 (Act No. 17 of 1998), 8 July 1998 [prohibits the trafficking of children].

BHUTAN

Constitution, 18 July 2008 [contains provisions on trafficking].

BOLIVIA

Law No. 3325 of 3 February 2006 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Rules for the protection of foreigners who are the victims of trafficking, 2004.

BRAZIL

Decree No. 6347 of 8 January 2008 [approves the National Plan to Confront Trafficking in Persons]. 

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

Criminal Code (Amendment) Act, 2007 (Act No. 3 of 2007), 17 January 2007 [inserts new provisions prohibiting trafficking].

BRUNEI

Trafficking and Smuggling of Persons Order, 2004, 20 December 2004.

BULGARIA

Combating Trafficking in Human Beings Act, 2003, as amended through 2008.

Regulations governing temporary placement shelters and protection and support centers for trafficking victims, 2004.

BURKINA FASO

Law No. 029/AN of 15 May 2008 [combats trafficking].

CAMBODIA

Act of 29 February 1996 on the Suppression of the Kidnapping, Trafficking and Exploitation of Human Persons.

Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation, 15 February 2008.

 

Guidelines for Practices and Cooperation between the Relevant Government Institutions and Victim Support Agencies In Cases of Human Trafficking, 6 February 2007.

CAMEROON

Law No. 2005/015 of 29 December 2005 [combats trafficking].

CANADA

Act to amend the Criminal Code (trafficking in persons) (Chapter 43 of 2005), 25 November 2005.

CAYMAN ISLANDS

Trafficking in Persons (Prevention and Suppression) Law, 2007 (Law No. 13 of 2007).

CHINA

China National Plan of Action on Combating Trafficking in Women and Children

 (2008-2012), 13 December 2007.

COLOMBIA

Law No. 747 of 19 July 2002 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

Law No. 985 of 26 August 2005 [adopts measures with respect to trafficking].

Decree No. 4786 of 19 December 2008 [adopts the Integral National Strategy against Trafficking in Person].

COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANAS

Public Law No. 14-88, 23 September 2005 [prohibits trafficking].

CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF

Law No. 06/018 of 20 July 2006 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

COOK ISLANDS

Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (Act No. 6 of 2003), 7 May 2003 [contains provisions on trafficking].

Crimes Amendment Act 2004, 1 June 2004 [contains provisions on trafficking].

COSTA RICA

Law No. 7999 of 5 May 2000 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

Law No. 8002 of 8 June 2000 amending Article 161 and 162 of the Penal Code, Law No. 4573 of 4 May 1970 [deals with trafficking].

CROATIA

National Programme for Suppression of Trafficking in Persons 2005-2008, 2004.

CYPRUS

 

Law No. 3(1) of 2000 on Combating of Trafficking in Persons and Sexual Exploitation of Children.

 

CZECH REPUBLIC

 

Guidelines on the Programme of support and protection of victims of trafficking in human beings and its institutional support, 2005.

 

DENMARK

 

Act of 2002 amending the Penal Code [contains provisions on trafficking].

 

DJIBOUTI

 

Law No. 210/AN/07/5thL of 27 December 2007 [combats trafficking].

EAST TIMOR

Law No. 9/2003 of 15 October 2003 [prohibits trafficking].

Decree-Law No. 19/2009, 30 March 2009 [approves a new Penal Code with provisions on trafficking].

ECUADOR

Decree No. 1823 of 30 August 2006 [combats trafficking].

EL SALVADOR 

Decree No. 210 of 25 November 2003 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

Decree No. 457 of 18 October 2004 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

Decree No. 568 of 4 October 2001 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

FIJI

Immigration Act 2003 (Act No. 17 of 2003), 6 November 2003 [prohibits trafficking].

FINLAND

Act No. 650 of 2004 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

GABON

Law No. 09/2004, 29 June 2004 [combats trafficking].

GEORGIA

Law of Georgia of 2006 on combating human trafficking, 28 April 2006.

Amendment to the Criminal Code, 2003 [prohibits trafficking].

GERMANY

Thirty-seventh Law amending the Penal Code, 11 February 2005 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

GHANA

Labour Regulations 2007, 28 May 2007 [contain provisions on trafficking].

GUAM

Public Law No. 30-26 of 16 June 2009 [amends the Guam Code to combat trafficking].

GUATEMALA

Decree No. 14-2005 of 2 March 2005 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

Decree No. 9-2009 of 18 February 2009 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

HAITI

Law of 5 June 2003 [prohibits trafficking].

HUNGARY

Government Decision No. 1018/2008 of 26 March 2008 [sets forth the National Strategy on Trafficking in Human Beings, 2008-2012]. 

ICELAND

Act No. 40 of 2003 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

INDIA

Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (Act No. 6 of 2007), 10 January 2007 [contains provisions on trafficking].

IRELAND

Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998 (Act No. 22 of 1998), 29 June 1998.

Child Trafficking and Pornography Act (Amendment) Act 2004 (Act No. 17 of 2004).

 

Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 (Act No. 8 of 2008), 7 May 2008.

ISRAEL

Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (Legislative Amendments) Law, No. 5766-2006.

ITALY

Law No. 228 of 11 August 2003 [combats trafficking].

Decree No. 237 of 19 September 2005 of the President of the Republic [regulates the above Law].

JAMAICA

Child Care and Protection Act, 2004 [prohibits trafficking].

JORDAN

Law of 1 March 2009 [combats trafficking].

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF

Amendment to the Act on Prevention of Sex Trafficking and Protection of its Victims, 2008.

KYRGYZSTAN

Law No. 193 of 9 August 2003 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

 

Law No. 55 of 17 March 2005 on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.

JAPAN                                                                                           

Act on Punishment of Activities Relating to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and the Protection of Children, as amended through Act No. 106 of 2004.

Action Plan of Measures to Combat Trafficking in Persons, December 2004.

LATVIA

Law of 25 April 2002 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

Cabinet Regulation No 889 of 31 October 2006, Regulations regarding the Procedures, by Which Victims of the Traffic in Human Beings Receive Social Rehabilitation Services, and the Criteria for the Recognition of a Person as a Victim of the Traffic in Human Beings.

 

Law on Residence of a Victim of Trafficking in Human Being in the Republic of Latvia, 18 February 2007.

 

LIECHTENSTEIN

 

Law of 23 May 2007 [amends the Penal Code to insert new provisions prohibiting trafficking]. 

 

LITHUANIA

 

Order No. 1104 of 9 September 2009 [approves the Program on the Prevention and Control of Trafficking 2009-2012]. 

 

LUXEMBOURG

 

Law of 13 March 2009 on trafficking in human beings.

 

Law of 8 May 2009 [sets forth provisions on assistance to and the protection and safety of victims of trafficking]. 

 

Law of 29 August 2008 [contains provisions on the treatment of persons who are found to be the victims of trafficking].

MACEDONIA

Law amending the Criminal Code, 2008 [strengthens provisions on trafficking].

MADAGASCAR

Law No. 2007-038 of 14 January 2008 [amends the Penal Code to fight human trafficking].

MALAYSIA

Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2007 (Act No. 670), 17 July 2007.

MALTA

Act No. 3 of 2002 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

MAURITIUS

The Child Protection (Amendment) Act, 2005 [prohibits trafficking].

Combatting of Trafficking in Persons Act 2009 (Act No. 2 of 2009), 30 July 2009.

MEXICO

Decree of 12 March 2007 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

Regulations of 11 February 2009 to the Law to Prevent and Punish Trafficking in Persons.

 

Law to Prevent and Punish Trafficking in Persons of 26 November 2007.  

 

MOLDOVA

 

Law No. 241-XVI of 20 October 2005, Law on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.

 

Decision of the Supreme Court of Justice of Moldova of 22 November 2004 [sets forth a detailed explanation of how the crime of trafficking is to be understood under the Criminal Code].

 

Decision of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of Moldova of 22 November 2004 sets forth detailed rules on the application of provisions of the Criminal Code prohibiting trafficking. 

MYANMAR

The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law 2005, 13 September 2005.

NEPAL

Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, 2007 (Act No. 5 of 2007), 24 July 2007.

NAURU

Immigration Amendment Act 2005 (Act No. 7 of 2005), 2 October 2005 [contains provisions].

NEW ZEALAND

Crimes Amendment Act 2002 (Act No. 20 of 2002) [prohibits trafficking].

NICARAGUA

Law No. 641, Penal Code, 16 November 2007 [contains provisions on trafficking].

NIGER

Law on reproductive health in Niger, 2006 [prohibits trafficking].

NIGERIA

Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, 2003 (Act No. 24 of 2003), 14 July 2003, and the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration (Amendment) Act, 2005.

PAKISTAN

Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking Ordinance, 2002.

Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking Rules, 2004.

PANAMA

Law No. 16 of 30 March 2004 amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

PARAGUAY

Law No. 3440 of 16 July 2008 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

PERU

Law No. 28950 of 15 January 2007 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

PHILIPPINES

Republic Act No. 9208 of 26 May 2003, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.

Rules and Regulations Implementing the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, 2003.

ROMANIA

Law No. 678 of 21 November 2001 on the Prevention and Combat of Trafficking in Human Beings.

Law No. 287 of 11 October 2005 [amends the above Law]. 

Penal Code, 17 July 2009 [contains provisions on trafficking].

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Law No. 162-FZ of 8 December 2003 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

Law of 25 November 2008 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

RWANDA

Law No. 59/2008 of 10 September 2008 on prevention and punishment of gender-based violence [contains provisions on trafficking].

SENEGAL

Law No. 2005-06 of 10 May 2005 on trafficking in persons and related practices and on the protection of victims.

SIERRA LEONE

The Anti-Human Trafficking Act, 2005, 18 August 2005.

SINGAPORE

Children and Young Persons Amendment Act 2001 (Act No. 20 of 2001), amending the Children and Young Persons Act [prohibits trafficking].

SLOVENIA

Criminal Code, 20 May 2008 [contains provisions on trafficking].

SOUTH AFRICA

Children's Amendment Act, 2007 (Act No. 41 of 2007), 13 March 2008 [contains provisions on child trafficking].

SRI LANKA

Penal Code (Amendment) Act, No. 16 of 2006, 24 April 2006 [prohibits trafficking].

Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution Act, No. 30 of 2005, 20 September 2005 [gives effect to the SAARC Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution].

SWEDEN

 

Action Plan for Combating Prostitution and Human Trafficking for Sexual Purposes, 10 July 2008.

TAIWAN

Immigration Act, 26 December 2007 [contains provisions on trafficking].

TAJIKISTAN

Law on the Fight against Human Trafficking, 8 July 2004.

TANZANIA

Sexual Offences Special Provisions Act, 1998 (Act No. 4 of 1998), 1 July 1998 [amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, 2008 (Act No. 6 of 2008), 6 June 2008.

THAILAND

The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act B.E 2551 (2008), 30 January 2008.

 

Penal Code Amendment Act (No. 14) B.E. 2540 (1997), 14 November 1997 amends the Penal Code with respect to trafficking].

TOGO

Law No. 2005-009 of 3 August 2005 on the trafficking of children in Togo.

TURKMENISTAN

Law of 14 December 2007 on combating trafficking.

UKRAINE

Law to introduce the changes to the Criminal Code of Ukraine (on improvement of the criminal responsibility for trafficking in human beings and making others involved in prostitution, 12 January 2006.

Cabinet of Ministers Decree No. 410 of 7 March 2007 [approves the State Programme on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings for the period until 2010]. 

 

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

 

Law on Anti-Trafficking, 11 November 2006.

UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004, Act No. 19 of 2004, 22 July 2004 [prohibits trafficking].

URUGUAY

Law No. 17815 of 6 September 2004 [prohibits trafficking].

Law No. 18250 of 6 January 2008 [prohibits trafficking].

UZBEKISTAN

Law No. 154 of 7 April 2008 [combats trafficking].

 

Presidential Decision No. 911 of 8 July 2008 [approves the National Plan of Action to strengthen the fight against trafficking in human beings for 2008-2010].

 

Law No. 179 of 16 September 2008 [amends the Criminal Code to strengthen provisions criminalizing trafficking].

VENEZUELA

Organic Law for the Protection of Children and Adolescents, 7 December 2007 [prohibits trafficking in children].

VIETNAM

Law on Child Protection, Care and Education, 15 June 2004 [prohibits trafficking].

ZAMBIA

Anti-Human Trafficking Act, 2008 (Act No. 11 of 2008), 24 September 2008.