Antigua and Barbuda has expanded training and adopted new plans to combat human trafficking, yet weak evidence collection, limited victim protection, and court backlogs continue to block cases from reaching trial, according to the 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report.
The report said authorities trained first responders and other officials, adopted a 2025 National Action Plan, and maintained a Trafficking in Persons Prevention Unit to coordinate victim identification, outreach, and investigations. Standard operating procedures exist to guide screening by law enforcement, immigration, customs, labor, and social services.
Despite those steps, prosecutorial outcomes remained unchanged. In 2024, officials opened investigations into 13 suspects across nine cases, down from 26 suspects in 25 cases the previous year. No prosecutions were initiated, and the country has never recorded a conviction under the 2010 Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act, which carries penalties of up to 20 years for adult trafficking and up to 25 years for crimes involving children.
Observers cited weak investigative capacity — particularly in evidence collection and case management — and corruption within the legal system as factors contributing to an environment of impunity. Courts continued to face significant backlogs due to insufficient financial and human resources. Although courts can use virtual and written testimony to protect victims, the report noted no use of these tools in trafficking cases.
Victim protection gaps further undermined enforcement. Officials identified 13 potential victims in 2024 but confirmed none as trafficking victims; the government has not confirmed a victim since 2019. The report said a widespread lack of understanding between trafficking and migrant smuggling impeded identification, and that the small size of Eastern Caribbean countries — including Antigua and Barbuda — limits authorities’ ability to protect victim-witnesses, discouraging reports and testimony.
Prevention efforts continued, including public awareness in English, Spanish, French, and Mandarin, and government spending on anti-trafficking activities. Still, the report emphasized that without stronger evidence handling, consistent use of screening protocols, and practical protections for witnesses, training alone is unlikely to translate into prosecutions or convictions.
