The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has faced decades of internal conflict, weakening its central government and disrupting its ability to provide essential services across its 26 provinces. Despite the country’s substantial mineral wealth, widespread corruption and systemic instability have made the DRC one of the poorest nations globally. These conditions have fostered a breeding ground for trafficking crimes, including commercial sexual exploitation, labor trafficking, child labor, forced marriages, and recruitment of child soldiers.
At the provincial level, there is a renewed commitment to anti-trafficking efforts, but resources to address trafficking threats remain severely limited. Financial vulnerabilities among the population, both within DRC and in neighboring states, also increase susceptibility to trafficking, while security challenges constrain the government’s capacity to respond effectively to human rights abuses. Additionally, limited community awareness, stigma, and weak support systems deter victims and witnesses of trafficking from coming forward, hindering prosecutions and empowering traffickers to continue to engage in nefarious actions.
In April 2024, the America Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) launched the five-year, USAID-funded Action to Reduce and Respond to Exploitation and Trafficking (ARRETE) Activity to strengthen the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (GDRC) ability to combat trafficking in persons. The program aims to enhance coordination and collaboration between the GDRC, international and national organizations, and local leaders. It focuses on increasing the state’s capacity to identify and prosecute traffickers, bolstering anti-trafficking networks that support affected communities, and empowering survivors.
With the expiration of the Congolese National Action Plan (NAP) on trafficking in persons in 2024, ABA ROLI launched ARRETE by evaluating the successes and challenges of the expiring NAP. Building on this assessment, the team is collaborating with GDRC partners on the development of the next iteration for 2025-2030. In tandem with these efforts, ABA ROLI is developing a case management tool to assist the GDRC and its partners to document trafficking cases and streamline victim referral processes. These initiatives are intended to create an adaptable and sustainable framework for combating trafficking and protecting survivors nationwide. As ARRETE continues its implementation, additional activities and impacts will contribute to the fight against trafficking in persons across the DRC.