Antigua and Barbuda has remained on Tier 2 in the U.S. government’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report, reflecting progress in prevention and training but persistent failures in prosecution and victim protection.
The 2025 report said the country “does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so.” The government adopted a new National Action Plan, trained first responders, and referred potential victims to services. Officials also advanced measures to safeguard foreign workers vulnerable to exploitation.
But the report stressed that Antigua and Barbuda has never secured a conviction under the 2010 Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act, despite penalties of up to 25 years’ imprisonment. In 2024, authorities investigated 13 suspects in nine cases, down from 26 suspects in 25 cases the previous year. No prosecutions were initiated, and no traffickers were convicted.
Observers cited weak investigative capacity, corruption in the legal system, and limited witness protection as barriers to bringing cases to court. The report said these factors fostered an “environment of impunity.”
The country also continued to struggle with victim identification. Thirteen potential victims were screened last year, but none were formally confirmed. The government has not identified a trafficking victim since 2019.
Despite increased spending on awareness campaigns and outreach in English, Spanish, French and Mandarin, the government reduced overall funding compared with the previous year. Authorities also began reviewing contracts of Cuban government-affiliated workers to ensure wages were fully paid to the employees rather than the regime, but oversight of Chinese-linked labor projects remained limited.
Under Tier 2, countries are recognized for making efforts but still fall short of international minimum standards. The designation keeps Antigua and Barbuda out of the lowest ranking but underscores continued scrutiny of its anti-trafficking record.
