Human trafficking in Cuba

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (July 2018)

In 2010, Cuba was principally a source country for children subjected to trafficking in persons, specifically commercial sexual exploitation within the country. The scope of trafficking within Cuba was difficult to gauge due to the closed nature of the government and sparse non-governmental or independent reporting.^[1][2] Throughout Cuban history the main types of human trafficking are through sexual and domestic exploitation, as well as forced labor. Women and girls are typically the major victims of these infractions since they are more likely to experience gender inequality, discrimination, and consequences on their physical and emotional well-being.

In 2010 the Government of Cuba did not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and did not make significant efforts to do so. In a positive step, the Government of Cuba shared information about human trafficking and its efforts to address the issue. However, the government did not prohibit all forms of trafficking during the reporting period, nor did it provide specific evidence that it prosecuted and punished trafficking offenders, protected victims of all forms of trafficking, or implemented victim protection policies or programs to prevent human trafficking.^[1]

Cuba ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol in June 2013.^[3]

The U.S. State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons placed the country in "Tier 2 Watchlist" in 2017^[4] and 2018.^[5]

In 2019, Cuba was downgraded to Tier 3 since it did not comply with the minimum standards and made no significant efforts to do so, and remained in Tier 3 in 2020.^[2] In 2023 the country remained as a Tier 3 country,^[6] with the U.S. report noting that Cuba was one of eleven countries which were seen as having a documented government policy or pattern of human trafficking.

In 2023, the Organised Crime Index gave Cuba a score of 5.5 out of 10 for human trafficking, noting that the government had made efforts to prevent this crime.^[7]