"Warnath group experts have been involved in in-depth analysis - working with governments and civil society - to improve anti-trafficking laws and associated policies and practices in countries around the world."
– Stephen Warnath, CEO & President
international protocols & conventions
AFRICAN UNION
2006 Ouagadougou Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings (available in English)
ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
2015 Plan of Action Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (available in English)
2015 Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (available in English)
2004 Declaration Against Trafficking in Persons, Particularly Women and Children (available in English)
BALI PROCESS
2018 Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime (available in English)
2015 Policy Guides on Identification of Victims of Trafficking (available in English)
2015 Policy Guides on Protection of Victims of Trafficking (available in English)
2014 Policy Guides on Criminalizing Migrant Smuggling (available in English)
2014 Policy Guides on Criminalizing Trafficking in Persons (available in English)
COORDINATED MEKONG MINISTERIAL INITIATIVE AGAINST TRAFFICKING
2004 Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation Against Trafficking in Greater Mekong Sub-Region (available in English)
COUNCIL OF BALTIC SEA STATES
Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings Strategic Plan 2020- 2025 (available in English)
A Vision for the Baltic Sea Region by 2020, CBSS Summit (available in English)
2016 Baltic Sea Roundup Report (available in English)
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
2005 Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings (available in English)
ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES
2002 Initial Plan of Action against Trafficking in Persons (available in English)
2001 Declaration on the Fight against Trafficking in Persons (available in English)
EUROPEAN UNION
2012-2016 EU Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings (available in English)
2011 Directive 2011/36/EU on Combating and Preventing Trafficking in Human Beings and Protecting its Victims (available in English)
FINANCIAL ACTION TASK FORCE
2018 FATF Report Financial Flows from Human Trafficking (available in English)
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
1998 Rome Statute (available in English)
INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATION
2014 Protocol of 2014 and Recommendation R203, supplementing the Forced Labour Convention (available in English)
2011 Convention concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers (available in English)
1999 Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (available in English)
1957 Convention concerning the Abolition of Forced Labour (available in English)
1930 Forced Labor Convention 29 (available in English)
For information on which countries are signatories or state parties, please see the International Labor Organization’s website.
KHARTOUM PROCESS
2014 – 2017 EU-Africa Action Plan on Migration and Mobility (available in English)
2015 Valletta Summit Political Declaration (available in English)
2015 Valletta Summit Action Plan (available in English)
2014 Declaration of the Ministerial Conference of the Khartoum Process (available in English)
2014 Khartoum Declaration on AU-Horn of Africa Initiative on Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants (available in English)
LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES
2012 Comprehensive Arab Strategy for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Council of Arab Ministers of Justice Resolution
2010 Arab Initiative to Combat Trafficking in Persons
2008 Arab Framework Act on Combating Trafficking in Persons
2004 Arab Charter on Human Rights (available in English)
ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE
2021 OSCE: International Survivors of Trafficking Advisory Council (Leaflet available in English)
2019 Uniform Guidelines for the Identification and Referral of Victims of Human Trafficking within the Migrant and Refugee Reception Framework in the OSCE Region (available in English)
2018 Model Guidelines on Government Measures to Prevent Trafficking for Labour Exploitation in Supply Chains (available in English)
2014 Resolution on Responsibility To Combat Human Trafficking in Government Contracts For Goods And Services
2013 Addendum to the OSCE Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings (available in English)
2007 Platform for Action against Human Trafficking (available in English)
2003 OSCE Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings (available in English)
ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES
2021 Recommendations of the Sixth Meeting of National Authorities on Trafficking in Persons “Challenges in the Fight against Trafficking in Times of Pandemic” (available in English)
2019 Advancing Hemispheric Security: A Multidimensional Approach (available in English)
2018 Hemispheric Efforts against Trafficking in Persons “Declaration of Mexico” (available in English)
2018 Hemispheric Efforts against Trafficking in Persons (available in English)
2015-2018 Second Work Plan against Trafficking in Persons in the Western Hemisphere, Extended to 2020 (available in English)
2015 – 2018 Progress Report: Second Work Plan against Trafficking in Persons in the Western Hemisphere (available in English)
2015 – 2018 Second Work Plan against Trafficking in Persons in the Western Hemisphere (available in English)
2014 Inter-American Declaration against Trafficking in Persons (available in English)
2010-2014 Working Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons in the Western Hemisphere (available in English)
PUEBLA PROCESS
2017 Special Declaration on Migration Related to the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (available in English)
2009 Plan of Action (available in English)
SOUTH AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
2009-2019 SADC Strategic Plan of Action on Combating Trafficking in Persons, especially women and Children
UNITED NATIONS
2019 UNSC Resolution 2493 on Trafficking in Person in Conflict Situations (available in English)
2017 Political Declaration on the Implementation of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons (available in English)
2017 UNSC Resolution 2388 on Trafficking in Persons in Conflict Situations (available in English)
2016 UNSC Resolution 2331 on Trafficking in Persons in Conflict Situations (available in English)
2010 United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons (available in English)
2004 United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols Thereto (available in English)
2002 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (available in English)
2000 Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (available in English)
2000 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (available in English)
For information on which countries are signatories or state parties, please see the United Nations Website.
national laws
AFGHANISTAN
2018 Penal Code Articles 510, 511, 512
2017 Law to Combat Crimes of Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (available in Persian)
2009 Law on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (available in English)
ALBANIA
2015 Amendments to the 1995 Criminal Code Articles 110 and 128 (unofficial translation available in English)
ALGERIA
ANDORRA
2005 Criminal Code Articles 121, 134, 152, 252 (available in French)
ANGOLA
Penal Code Articles 177, 178, 189, 190, and 196, Amended in 2020 (draft available in English)
2017 Penal Code (draft available in English)
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
2015 Amendment to the 2010 Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act (available in English)
2010 Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act (available in English)
ARGENTINA
2012 Law 26.842 (available in Spanish)
ARMENIA
2015 Law on Identification and Assistance to Victims of Human Trafficking and Exploitation (draft available in English)
2017 Amendment to the 2003 Criminal Code Articles 132 and 132-2 (available in English)
ARUBA
Criminal Code (as amended in 2006) (Articles 203a, 286a) (available in English)
AUSTRALIA
2018 Modern Slavery Act (available in English)
2017 Amendment to the 1995 Criminal Code (Part 1 available in English) (Part 2 available in English)
2013 Crimes Legislation Amendment (Slavery, Slavery-like Conditions and People Trafficking) Act (available in English)
2013 Crimes Legislation Amendment (Law Enforcement Integrity, Vulnerable Witness Protection and Other Measures) Act (available in English)
2013 Migration Amendment (Reform of Employer Sanctions) Act (available in English)
2007 Migration Amendment (Employer Sanctions) Act (available in English)
Commonwealth Criminal Code of 1995 Divisions 270 and 271 (available in English)
AUSTRIA
Austrian Criminal Codes, Articles 104a, 116, 217 (available in German)
AZERBAIJAN
2010 Amendment to the 1990 Criminal Code, Article 144 (available in Azerbaijani)
2005 Law on the Fight against Trafficking in Persons (available in English)
THE BAHAMAS
2017 Amendment to the 2008 Trafficking in Persons Prevention and Suppression Act (Act available in English) (Amendment available in English)
BAHRAIN
2012 Labor Law No. 36 (available in English)
2008 Law No. 1 (available in English and Arabic)
Bahraini Penal Code, Articles 325 and 395
2002 Constitution Article 19(b) (available in English)
BANGLADESH
2015 Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of India (available in English)
2013 Overseas Employment and Migrants Act (available in English)
2012 Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act (available in English)
BARBADOS
2016 Trafficking in Persons Prevention Act (available in English)
1994 Offenses Against the Person Act, Articles 18, 20, 33, 34 (available in English)
1938 Recruitment of Workers Act (available in English)
BELARUS
2013 Amendment to the 1999 Criminal Code, Article 181 (available in Russian)
BELGIUM
2006 Law amending the Aliens Law of 1980
2005 Amendment to the 1995 Act Containing Measures to Repress Trafficking in Persons
BELIZE
2013 Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (Prohibition) Act (available in English)
2013 Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act (available in English)
BENIN
2018 Penal Code, Articles 499-504 (available in French)
2006 Act Relating to the Transportation of Minors and the Suppression of Child Trafficking (available in French)
BHUTAN
2011 Child Care and Protection Act, Section 224 (available in English)
2011 Amendment to the 2004 Penal Code, Articles 154, 227, 379 (Act available in English) (Amendment available in English)
2007 Labor and Employment Act (available in English)
BOLIVIA
2012 Comprehensive Law Against Trafficking and Smuggling of Persons – Law 263 (available in Spanish)
Law 2033 Article 321
1972 Penal Code Article 281 (available in Spanish)
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINIA
2012 Comprehensive Law Against Trafficking and Smuggling of Persons – Law 263 (available in Bosnian)
Law 2033 Article 321
State-Level Criminal Code Article 186
Brcko District Criminal Code Article 207a
BOTSWANA
2014 Anti-Human Trafficking Act (available in English)
2009 Children’s Act, Section 57 (available in English)
BRAZIL
2017 Amendment to the 1940 Penal Code Articles 149, 231, 231-A (available in Portuguese)
2016 Law 13.344 (available in Portuguese)
BRUNEI
2019 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Order (available in English)
2009 Employment Agencies Order (available in English)
2004 Employment Agencies Order (available in English)
2004 Trafficking and Smuggling of Persons Order (available in English)
Women and Girls Prosecution Act, Chapter 120 Section 5 (available in English)
BULGARIA
2014 Amendment to the 1968 Criminal Code, Articles 159a-d (Penal Code available in English) (Amendment available in Bulgarian)
2003 Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings Act (available in English)
BURKINA FASO
2015 Law No. 061-2015/CNT Law on the Prevention and Repression of Violence Against Women and Girls and Support for Victims (available in French)
Law No. 011-2014/AN Law Suppressing the Sale of Children, the Prostitution of Children, and Child Pornography (available in English)
Law No. 029/AN on the Fight against Trafficking in Persons and Similar Practices (available in English)
Penal Code Articles 511-1 to 511-5
BURMA
2019 Child Rights Law (available in Burmese)
2012 Ward and Village Tracts Administration Act (available in English)
2005 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law (available in English)
Penal Code, Section 374
BURUNDI
2014 Anti-Trafficking Law (available in French)
2009 Amendment to the 1981 Criminal Code, Articles 242-243 (available in French)
1993 Labor Law, Article 2 (available in French)
CABO VERDE
2015 Amendment to the 2003 Penal Code, Articles 148, 149, 271, 271A
2007 Labor Code, Article 14 (available in Portuguese)
CAMBODIA
2008 Law on the Suppression of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation (available in English)
CAMEROON
2016 Penal Code, Section 432-1 (available in English) (available in French) (the two versions define “trafficking in persons” differently)
2011 Anti-Trafficking Law (available in English)
CANADA
2017 Amendment to the 1995 Criminal Code, Sections 279.01, 279.011, 279.02, and 279.03 (available in English)
2001 Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, Section 118 (available in English)
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
2010 Penal Code, Article 151 (available in English)
2009 Labor Code, Articles 7-8 (available in French)
CHAD
2018 Law on Combatting Trafficking in Persons
1996 Constitution (available in English)
1996 Labor Code, Title 5 (available in French)
1967 Penal Code, Articles 279-280
CHILE
2017 Amendment to the 1874 Penal Code, Article 367 (available in Spanish)
2011 Law 20.507 (available in Spanish)
CHINA
2007 Amendment to the 1979 Criminal Code, Articles 240, 241, 244, 358, 359 (available in English)
COLOMBIA
2005 Law 985 (available in Spanish)
2002 Amendment to the 1967 Penal Code, Articles 141 and 188
COMOROS
2014 Law to Combat Child Labor and Trafficking in Children
2012 Amendment to the 1984 Labor Code, Article 2 (Labor Code available in French) (Amendment available in French)
1995 Amendment to the 1981 Penal Code, Articles 310, 311, 323, 333 (available in French)
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
2009 Law 09/001 Child Protection Code (available in French)
2006 Law 6/018 (Sexual Violence Statute) (available in French)
2002 Labor Code, Article 326
REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
2019 Law on the Fight Against Human Trafficking (available in French)
2010 Child Protection Code, Articles 60, 68, 115, 122
2002 Labor Code, Article 4 and 257
COSTA RICA
Law 9095 (Amended 2018) (available in Spanish)
Regulation to Law 9095 (available in Spanish)
2012 Law 9095 (available in Spanish)
COTE D’IVOIRE
2017 Amendment to the 1981 Penal Code, Articles 335, 336, 376, 378 (available in French)
2016 Law No. 2016-1111 Relating to the Fight Against Trafficking in Persons (available in French)
2010 Law No. 2010-272 Pertaining to the Prohibition of Child Trafficking and the Worst Forms of Child Labor
CROATIA
2011 Amendment to the 1997 Criminal Code, Articles 105 and 106 (available in Croatian) (available in English)
CUBA
2014 Labor Code, Article 116
2009 Amendment to the 1987 Penal Code, Articles 299.1, 300.1, 303, 310.1, 312.1, 316.1 (unofficial translation available in English)
CURACAO
2011 Criminal Code, Article 2:239
CYPRUS
2014 Law 60(I)
CZECH REPUBLIC
2014 Amendment to the 2009 Criminal Code, Sections 168, 189 (available in English)
DENMARK
2017 Amendment to the 1930 Criminal Code, Section 262a
DJIBOUTI
2016 Law 133 On the Fight Against Trafficking in Persons and Illicit Smuggling of Migrants (available in French)
2011 Law 111 Regarding the Fight Against Terrorism and Other Serious Crimes (available in French)
DOMINICA
2013 Transnational Organized Crime (Prevention and Control) Act Part III, Section 8 (available in English)
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
2007 Amendment to the 1884 Penal Code, Article 334 (available in Spanish)
2003 Law 137-03 (available in Spanish)
2003 Law 136-03 Code for the Protection and Fundamental Rights of Children and Adolescents, Article 25 (available in Spanish)
ECUADOR
2014 Penal Code, Articles 91, 92, 100, 101, 102, 105 (available in Spanish)
2003 Children and Adolescents Code, Articles 69, 70, 81, 91 (available in Spanish)
EGYPT
2014 Constitution Articles 80 and 89 (available in English) (available from Constitute)
2010 Anti-Trafficking Law No. 64 (available in English)
2008 Child Law No. 126 (available in English)
EL SALVADOR
2017 Amendment to the 1997 Penal Code, Article 367B (available in Spanish)
2014 Special Law against Trafficking in Persons (available in Spanish)
EQUITORIAL GUINEA
2004 Law on the Smuggling of Migrants and Trafficking in Persons (available in English)
ERITREA
2015 Penal Code, Articles 297, 299, 315-318 and 391 (available in English)
2001 Labor Proclamation 118 (available in English)
1957 Penal Code, Articles 565 and 605, (available in English)
ESTONIA
2017 Amendment to the 2001 Penal Code, Articles 133 and 175 (available in English)
ESWATINI
2012 Children’s Protection and Welfare Act, Article 75 (available in English)
2009 People Trafficking and People Smuggling (Prohibition) Act (available in English)
ETHIOPIA
Proclamation 1178/2020 (available in English and Ahmaric)
2015 Proclamation No. 909/2015, To Provide for the Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling Migrants (available in English and Amharic)
2009 Proclamation No. 632/2009 of 2009, Employment Exchange Services Proclamation (available in English and Amharic)
FIJI
2009 Crimes Decree (available in English)
FINLAND
2015 Amendment to the 1894 Penal Code, Law 1889-39 (available in English)
1995 Penal Code Chapter 25 Section 3 (available in English)
FRANCE
2016 Amendment to the 1992 Penal Code, Article 225-4 (available in French)
GABON
2004 Law 09/04 Concerning the Prevention and the Fight Against the Trafficking of Children in the Gabonese Republic (available in French)
1994 Law 3/94 Labor Code Title 1, Article 4 (available in French)
1994 Law 21/63-94
1963 Penal Code, Articles 48 and 261
THE GAMBIA
2010 Amendment to the 2007 Trafficking in Persons Act (Act available in English) (Amendment available in English)
2005 Children’s Act (available in English)
2003 Tourism Offenses Act
GEORGIA
2016 Amendment to the 1999 Criminal Code, Article 143 (available in English)
2006 Law on Combatting Trafficking in Persons (available in English)
GERMANY
2016 Act to improve the fight against Human Trafficking and to amend the Federal Central Register Law as well as the Eighth Book of the Social Code (available in German)
2013 Amendment to the 1971 Penal Code, Sections 232 and 233 (available in English)
GHANA
2009 Human Trafficking (Amendment) Act 784 (available in English)
2005 Human Trafficking Act
(available in English)
GREECE
2013 Law 4198/2013 (available in Greek)
2003 Presidential Decree 233/2003 (available in English)
2002 Law 3064/2002 (available in English)
GRENADA
2014 Anti-Trafficking Law (available in English)
GEORGIA
2009 Anti-Trafficking Law (available in Spanish)
GUINEA
2016 Penal Code, Articles 323 and 324 (available in French)
2010 Child Code, Articles 385-396
GUINEA-BISSAU
2011 Public Law 12/2011 (available in Portuguese)
2009 Child Code
GUYANA
2005 Combatting Trafficking of Persons Act (available in English)
HAITI
2014 Law. No. CL/2014-0010 (available in English)
HONDURAS
2012 Decree 59-2012 Anti-Trafficking Law (available in Spanish)
HONG KONG
2014 Amendment to the 1971 Crimes Ordinance, Sections 129-131, 137 (available in English)
2013 Prosecution Code, Section 18.1 (available in English)
HUNGARY
2013 Criminal Code, Articles 192, 192(3), 193, 203 (available in English)
ICELAND
2015 Amendment to the 1940 Criminal Code, Article 227a (available in English)
INDIA
2016 Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act (available in English)
2015 Secluded Castes and the Secluded Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act (available in English)
2015 Juvenile Justice Act, Section 83(1) (available in English)
2013 Amendment to the 1860 Penal Code, Sections 370, 372, 373 (available in English)
1976 Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Act (available in English)
1956 Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (available in English)
INDONESIA
2014 Child Protection Law (available in Bahasa Indonesia)
2007 Law 21-2007 (Anti-Trafficking Law) (available in English)
IRAN
2004 Law on Combating Human Trafficking (available in Persian)
2002 Law to Protect Children and Adolescents (available in Persian)
IRAQ
2012 Anti-Trafficking Law (available in English)
1969 Penal Code Article 399 (availble in English)
IRELAND
Criminal Justice (Sexual Offenses) Act of 2017 (available in English)
2015 Criminal Law (Sexual Offenses) Bill (available in English)
2008 Human Trafficking Act (Amended in 2013) (Act available in English) (Amendment available in English)
ISRAEL
Penal Law 5737-1977 Article 376A (available in English)
2006 Anti-Trafficking Law
ITALY
2003 Measures Against Trafficking in Persons Law (available in English)
1930 Penal Code Articles 600, 601, and 602 (Article 600 available in English) (Article 601 available in English) (Article 602 available in English)
JAMAICA
2007 Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Suppression, and Punishment) Act (Act available in English) (2013 Amendment available in English) (2018 Amendment available in English)
2014 Criminal Justice Act (available in English)
JAPAN
2008 Amendment to the 1947 Labor Standards Act (available in English)
2007 Amendment to the 1947 Employment Security Law (available in English)
2007 Amendment to the 1947 Child Welfare Law (available in Japanese)
2006 Amendment to the 1907 Penal Code, Articles 226-2 and 227 (available in English)
1956 Prostitution Prevention Law, Articles 7, 8, 10, 12
JORDAN
2009 Anti-Human Trafficking Law (available in Arabic)
KAZAKHSTAN
2019 Amendment to 1997 Criminal Code (available in English)
2016 Amendment to the 1997 Penal Code, Articles 68, 128, 135, 125 (3b), 126 (3b), 308, 134 (available in Kazakh)
KENYA
2014 Victims Protection Act (available in English)
2010 Counter-Trafficking in Persons Act (available in English)
2006 Sexual Offenses Act (available in English)
KIRIBATI
2008 Act to Amend The Measures to Combat Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime Act of 2005 (available in English)
2005 Measures to Combat Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime Act (available in English)
DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
No information available
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Criminal Act Chapter 31, Articles 288, 289, and 292 (Article 288 available in English) (Article 289 available in English)
2013 Amendment to the 1953 Criminal Code, Chapter 31 (available in English)
2011 Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse (available in English)
Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles Against Sexual Abuse, Article 12 (available in English)
2004 Act on the Punishment of Acts of Arranging Sexual Traffic (available in English)
1997 Labor Standards Act (available in English)
KOSOVO
2002 Criminal Code, Articles 169, 172, 231, 235 (available in English)
KUWAIT
2016 Amendment to the 2010 New Private Sector Labour Law No. 6 (available in English)
2013 Law 91/2013 Combating Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (available in English)
KYRGYZ REPUBLIC
2016 Amendment to the 1997 Criminal Code, Articles 124, 171, 173, 260, 261
2012 Code on Children, Article 10
2005 Law on Preventing and Combatting Human Trafficking (available in English)
LAOS
2018 Penal Code, Articles 215 and 262 (available in Lao)
2015 Anti-Trafficking Law, Article 134 (available in Lao)
LATVIA
2013 Amendment to the 1998 Criminal Code, Sections 154-1, 154-2, 164, 165-1 (available in English)
LEBANON
2011 Law Number 164 Anti-Trafficking Law (available in English)
LESOTHO
2011 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (available in English)
2011 Children’s Protection and Welfare Act Part IX – Trafficking Abduction of Children, Section 77 (available in English)
LIBERIA
2005 Act to Ban Trafficking in Persons (available in English)
LIBYA
2014 Amendment to the 1953 Penal Code, Articles 418, 419, 420, 425, 426
LITHUANIA
2010 Amendment to the 2000 Criminal Code, Articles 147 and 157 (available in English)
LUXEMBOURG
2018 Bill No. 7008 (available in English)
2017 Amendment to the 1879 Criminal Code, Articles 382-1 and 382-2 (available in French)
MACAU
2008 Law Number 6/2008 (available in English)
NORTH MACEDONIA
2017 Criminal Code Articles 418(a) and (d), Amended in 2018 (available in English)
2013 Amendment to the 1996 Criminal Code Articles 418-a and 418-d (available in Macedonian)
MADAGASCAR
2014 Law No. 2014-040 (available in French)
2007 Anti-Trafficking Law 2007-038 (available in English)
2007 Decree N2007-563, Article 15
2004 Labor Code, Article 4 (available in French)
MALAWI
2015 Anti-Trafficking Law (available in English)
MALAYSIA
2015 Amendment to the 2007 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, previously amended 2010 (available in English)
Immigration Act 1959/63, Amended in 2006 (available in English)
MALDIVES
2013 Prevention of Human Trafficking Act, Articles 14-16
MALI
2012 Law 2012-023 Relating to the Combat against Trafficking in Persons and Similar Practices (available in French)
MALTA
2016 Amendment to the 1854 Criminal Code Article 248A-G (available in English)
MARSHALL ISLANDS
2017 Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons Act (available in English)
MAURITANIA
2015 Anti-Slavery Law (available in French)
2013 Law 2013-011, Article 1
2003 Law On Suppression of Trafficking in Persons No. 025 (available in English)
Penal Code for Children, Article 54
MAURITUS
2009 Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act (available in English)
2008 Judicial Provisions Act (available in English)
2005 Child Protection Act (available in English)
MEXICO
2012 Anti-Trafficking Law (available in Spanish)
MICRONESIA
2012 Anti-Trafficking Law (available in English)
MOLDOVA
2017 Amendment to the 2002 Criminal Code, Articles 165, 168, 206
2005 The Law on Preventing and Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings (available in English)
2003 Labor Code, Article 7
1994 Constitution, Article 44 (available in English)
MONGOLIA
2017 Amendment to the 2002 Criminal Code, Articles 12.3, 13.1, 16.1, 16.4, 113, 124, 168 (available in Mongolian)
MONTENEGRO
2007 Constitution, Articles 28 and 63 (available in English)
2004 Amendment to the 2003 Criminal Code, Articles 210, 444, 445, 446 (available in English)
MOROCCO
2016 Anti-Human Trafficking Law 27.14
2004 Amendment to the 1962 Penal Code, Articles 467-2, 475, 486, 497-499 (available in French) (available in Arabic)
2003 Labor Code, Article 10
Law 02-03 (available in Arabic)
Asylum and Migration in Maghreb, Law 02-03, Articles 52, 53, 73 (available in English)
MOZAMBIQUE
2014 Penal Code (available in Portuguese)
2008 Law on Preventing and Combating the Trafficking of People, Articles 196 and 198 (available in English)
NAMIBIA
2018 Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act (available in English)
2015 Child Care and Protection Act (available in English)
2009 Prevention of Organized Crime Act (available in English)
2006 Amendment to the 1980 Combatting of Immoral Practices Act (available in English)
NEPAL
2007 Foreign Employment Act (available in English)
2007 Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act (available in English)
2002 Bonded Labor (Prohibition) Act (available in English)
2000 Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Act (available in English)
NETHERLANDS
2017 Amendment to the 1881 Criminal Code Article 273f (available in Dutch)
NEW ZEALAND
2003 Prostitution Reform Act, Sections 20 and 21 (available in English)
1961 Crimes Act, Article 98, Amended in 2015 (available in English)
1961 Crimes Act, Article 98 AA and 98 D (available in English)
NICARAGUA
2015 Law No.896 Against Human Trafficking (available in Spanish)
2005 Amendment to the 1987 Constitution, Article 40 (available in English)
Penal Code Law no. 641, Articles 182, 183, 315 (available in English)
NIGER
2010 Order No. 2012-86 on Cambating Trafficking in Persons
NIGERIA
2015 Amendment to the 2013 Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition), Enforcement and Administration Act (available in English)
2003 Child Rights Act, Sections 28 and 30 (available in English)
NORTHERN IRELAND
2015 Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act (available in English)
NORWAY
2015 Amendment to the 1902 Penal Code, Sections 257 and 258 (available in English)
OMAN
2014 Sultani Decree No. 22/2014 Promulgating the Child Law (available in Arabic)
2008 Royal Decree No. 126/2008 Law Combating Trafficking in Persons
PAKISTAN
2018 Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act (available in English)
2016 Amendment to the 1860 Penal Code, Sections 366A, 369A, 370, 371, 374 (available in English)
1992 Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Act (available in English)
PALAU
2014 Criminal Code, Sections 2106-2108
2005 Anti-Smuggling and Trafficking Act (available in English)
PANAMA
2015 Amendment to the 2007 Penal Code, Articles 180, 186, 456 (available in Spanish)
2011 Law 79 (available in Spanish)
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
2013 Criminal Code Amendment Act (available in English)
PARAGUAY
2012 Comprehensive Anti-Trafficking Law 4788 (available in Spanish)
2008 Law 3440/08 Articles 129b and 129c
1997 Penal Code Article 139 (available in Spanish)
PERU
2015 Amendment to the 1991 Penal Code Article 153 (available in Spanish)
1991 Penal Code Article 129, Amended in 2021 (available in Spanish)
Legislative Decree No. 1232 Article 168-B
PHILIPPINES
2012 Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (available in English)
2003 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (available in English)
1991 Republic Act 7610: Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act Sections 12-D and 16 (available in English)
POLAND
2016 Amendment to the 1997 Criminal Code, Articles 115.22, 115.23, 189a, 203, 204.3
PORTUGAL
2017 Amendment to the 1982 Penal Code Articles 159, 160, 169, 175 (available in Portguese)
2017 Amendment to the 2003 Labor Code (available in Portuguese)
QATAR
2011 Anti-Trafficking Law (available in English)
ROMANIA
2020 Amendment to the 2009 Criminal Code, Articles 210, 211, 367 (available in English)
RUSSIA
2017 Amendment to the 1996 Criminal Code, Articles 127.1 and 127.2, 240, 240.1, 241 (available in Russian)
Labor Code, Article 4
RWANDA
2018 Law on the Prevention, Suppression, and Punishment of Trafficking-in-Persons and Exploitation of Others (available in English, French and Kinyarwanda)
2018 Labor Code Law no. 66/2018, Articles 8 and 72 (available in English)
2012 Penal Code, Chapter 8 (available in English)
2012 Law Relating to the Rights and Protection of the Child, Article 51 (available in English)
SAINT LUCIA
2010 Counter-Trafficking Act (available in English)
2006 Labor Code, Article 6 (available in English)
SINT MAARTEN
2012 Penal Code, Articles 2:239-245
SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
2011 Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act (available in English)
SAUDI ARABIA
2009 Suppression of the Trafficking in Persons Act (Royal Decree M/40) (unofficial English translation available from the Protection Project)
SCOTLAND
2015 Human Trafficking and Exploitation Bill (available in English)
SENEGAL
2005 Law to Combat Trafficking in Persons and Related Practices to Protect Victims (available in English)
SERBIA
2016 Amendment to the 2005 Criminal Code, Articles 388 and 390 (available in Serbian)
SEYCHELLES
2014 Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons Avt (available in English)
2012 Amendment to the 1955 Penal Code, Sections 250, 251, 259 (available in English)
1955 Criminal Code (available in English)
SIERRA LEONE
2012 Sexual Offenses Act (available in English)
2007 Child Rights Act (available in English)
2007 Domestic Violence Act (available in English)
2005 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (available in English)
1956 Laws of Sierra Leone, Chapter 215
SINGAPORE
2016 Amendment to the 1961 Women’s Charter, Articles 140-141 (available in English)
2014 Prevention of Human Trafficking Act (available in English)
2009 Amendment to the 1990 Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (available in English)
SLOVAK REPUBLIC
2017 Amendment to the 2005 Criminal Code, Section 179 (available in Slovak)
SLOVENIA
2012 Amendment to the 2008 Criminal Code, Articles 112, 113, 175, (available in Slovenian) (available in English)
SOLOMON ISLANDS
2016 Penal Code (Amendment) Sexual Offenses Bill, Articles 143 and 145 (available in English)
2012 Immigration Act (available in English)
SOMOLIA
2012 Provisional Constitution Article 14, 29(6) (available in English)
Penal Code, Articles 408(1), 455, 457, 464 (available in English)
SOUTH AFRICA
2016 Amendment to the 2005 Children’s Act (Act available in English) (Amendment Act available in English) (Second Amendment Act available in English)
2014 Amendment to the 2007 Sexual Offenses Act (Act available in Enlgish) (Amendment available in English)
2014 Amendment to the 1997 Basic Conditions of Employment Act (available in English)
2013 Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act (available in English)
2007 Amendment to the 1998 Prevention of Organized Crime Act (available in English)
SOUTH SUDAN
2017 Labor Act (available in English)
2008 Penal Code, Articles 254, 258, 276-279, 282 (available in English)
2008 Child Act (available in English)
SPAIN
2015 Amendment to the 1995 Criminal Code, Article 177 bis (available in Spanish)
SRI LANKA
2006 Amendment to the 1883 Penal Code, Articles 360(A), 360(B), and 360(C) (available in English)
2005 Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women in Children for Prostitution Act No. 30 (available in English)
SUDAN
2014 Combatting of Human Trafficking Act (available in English)
2007 Armed Forces Act (available in English)
SURINAME
2015 Amendment to the 1911 Criminal Code , Articles 307 and 334 (available in Dutch)
SWEDEN
Penal Code Chapter 4 Section 1a and 1b and Chapter 6 Section 9, Amended in 2020 (available in English and Swedish)
2018 Amendments to the 1976 Penal Code, Chapter 4 Section 1a and 1b
2002 Anti-Trafficking Law
SWITZERLAND
2017 Amendment to the 1937 Penal Code, Articles 180-182, 195-196 (available in English)
SYRIA
2013 Law No. 11/2013 (available in Arabic)
2011 Decree No. 3/2011
TAIWAN
Criminal Code Articles 231, 296, and 302 (available in English)
2009 Human Trafficking Prevention and Control Act (available in English)
The Children and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act (available in English)
TAJIKISTAN
2011 Amendment to the 1998 Criminal Code, Articles 130.1, 130.2, 132, 167, 241.2 (available in English)
2014 Law On Counteracting Trafficking In Persons And Providing Support To Victims Of Trafficking In Persons (available in English)
TANZANIA
2011 Children’s Act, Article 102 (available in English)
2009 Law of the Child Act (available in English)
2008 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (available in English)
2005 Employment Act (available in English)
2004 Employment and Labor Relations Act (available in English)
THAILAND
2016 Beggar Control Act (available in Thai)
2008 Anti-Trafficking Law, Amended in 2019 (Law and Amendment available in English)
2008 Anti Trafficking Law (available in English)
2008 Amendments to the Criminal Code, Sections 282, 283, 312 (available in English)
TIMOR-LESTE
2017 Law on Preventing and Combating Human Trafficking
2012 Labor Code, Article 67 (available in English)
2009 Penal Code, Articles 155, 162-165 (available in English)
2003 Immigration Asylum Act – Law No. 9/2003 (available in English)
TOGO
2015 Amendment to the Penal Code, Articles 317-320 (available in French)
2006 Labor Code, Article 4 (available in French)
2007 Child Code (available in French)
2005 Law Related to Child Trafficking (available in English) (available in French)
1990 Penal Code Articles 317, 318, 319, and 320 (available in French)
TONGA
2013 Counter Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime Act (available in English)
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
2011 Trafficking in Persons (available in English)
TUNISIA
2016 Law No. 61 Relating to the Prevention and the Fight Against Human Trafficking (available in French)
2012 Amendment to the 1913 Penal Code (available in French)
TURKEY
2016 Amendment to the 2004 Criminal Code, Articles 80, 117, 227(1) (available in English)
TURKMENISTAN
2016 Anti-Trafficking Law
2016 Amendment to the 1997 Criminal Code, Article 129
UGANDA
2016 Children (Amendment) Act (available in English)
2009 Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act (available in English)
UKRAINE
2010 Amendment to the 2001 Criminal Code, Article 149 (available in English)
2001 Law on the Protection of Childhood, Article 32 (available in English)
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
2017 Federal Law No. 10 (available in English)
2015 Amendment to 2006 Federal Law No. 51 (available in English)
UNITED KINGDOM
2015 Modern Slavery Act (available in English)
For information on the laws of Northern Ireland and Scotland, please see the individual entries for these countries.
UNITED STATES
2000 Trafficking Victims Prevention Act (available in English) (reauthorized in 2003, 2005, 2008, and 2013)
2012 Executive Order Strengthening Protections Against Trafficking in Persons in Federal Contract (available in English)
Title 18 US Code Section 1581
URUGUAY
2014 Amendment to the 1967 Penal Code, Articles 280-281 (available in English)
2008 Immigration Law, Articles 78, 79, 81 (available in Spanish)
2004 Sexual Violence Law No. 17.815, Article 6 (available in Spanish)
1927 Law No. 8.080 (available in Spanish)
UZBEKISTAN
2012 Amendment to the 2005 Law on Organized Crime (available in Spanish)
2007 Law on Women’s Rights (available in Spanish)
VANUATU
Counter Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime Act, Articles 34 and 35 (available in English)
1981 Penal Code Act Cap 135, Amended in 2006 (available in English)
VENEZUELA
2012 Amendment to the 2005 Law on Organized Crime (available in Spanish)
2007 Law on Women’s Rights (available in Spanish)
VIETNAM
2015 Amendment to the 1999 Penal Code, Articles 119, 120, 150, 151 (available in English)
YEMEN
2002 Child Rights Law, Article 161
1994 Penal Code, Articles 248 and 279 (available in English)
ZAMBIA
2008 Anti-Trafficking Act (available in English)
ZIMBABWE
2015 Labour Relations Amendment Act (available in English)
2014 Trafficking in Persons Act (available in English)
2009 Amendment to the 2004 Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (available in English)
Contact Us
If you are a government official or service provider involved in the anti-trafficking work of your country and are interested in learning more about the training and technical assistance that The Warnath Group can provide, please contact us.