CenHTRO Research Details Scope of Sex Trafficking in Senegal’s Gold Mining Region

One in five individuals engaged in commercial sex in the gold mining areas of Senegal are victims of sex trafficking, according to new research from the University of Georgia’s Center on Human Trafficking Research & Outreach (CenHTRO). 

The report describes the nature of sex trafficking in Kédougou, in the southeast region of Senegal, where mineral-rich soil has prompted a revival of traditional gold mining. Bordered by Mali and Guinea, Kédougou’s mining boom attracts people from across West Africa. But the gold rush carries steep downsides. 

Key interviews in the study—“Sex Trafficking in the Gold Mining Areas of Kédougou, Senegal (PDF)”—describe these mining communities as hypermasculine, with large populations of young male workers and social norms that condone the abuse of women. Following local traditional and cultural attitudes, some miners believe visiting individuals engaged in commercial sex increases their chances of discovering gold. 

To meet this demand, criminals deceive women into situations of sex trafficking, defined by the U.S. Department of State as commercial sex acts induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person has not attained 18 years of age. 

In Senegal, where commercial sex is legal, the crime of sex trafficking is transnational in scope. The majority of victims (68%) came from Nigeria, according to the report. Thirteen percent of survivors came from Senegal, 12% came from Mali, and 8% came from countries in West Africa. 

Survivors described being offered false promises of good paying job opportunities outside of Nigeria. But they were instead taken to Senegal, where survivors reported being forced to engage in commercial sex to pay travel debts and living expenses. Respondents disclosed experiencing emotional, psychological, and social manipulation to ensure that they stayed in their situation.

CenHTRO Director David Okech said the research helps foster productive action on what’s considered a taboo subject in the local culture. 

“Sex trafficking is a very difficult conversation to have in the Senegalese context,” Okech said. “Our research will demystify the problem and, hopefully, lead to solutions and justice to victims and survivors.” 

Additionally, Okech added, the report shows the transnational scope of the problem. 

“We identified two routes that are used to transfer the girls. Given that there are about six countries between Nigeria and Senegal, it is possible that the women are not only exploited at their destination in Senegal, but likely throughout the long road journey between the two countries,” Okech said.” This means that our policy and programming interventions must be regional and not just focused on the destination country of Senegal.”

This new research, funded by the U.S. Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, employs both qualitative interviews and qualitative surveys, both methods focusing on women aged 18 to 30 who were engaged in commercial sex. These data inform a series of recommendations—including new policies, training for judges and law enforcement, and awareness-raising activities—that may improve outcomes for survivors. 

“Our quantitative data collection involved interviews with over 550 women engaged in commercial sex in Kedougou, who we contacted through respondent driven sampling,” said Jody Clay-Warner, co-investigator for the study and Meigs Professor of Sociology at UGA. “This approach allowed us not only to obtain detailed information about the experiences of these women, but also to estimate the overall rate of sex trafficking in this population. The qualitative data from community members and local officials complements the quantitative data to provide a comprehensive picture of the problem of sex trafficking in this area.”

In addition to research, CenHTRO collaborates with the Senegalese government, community groups, and international NGOs to implement anti-trafficking programs in the gold mining region, guided by the report’s findings and recommendations. 

With partner the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, CenHTRO is working to strengthen prosecution efforts by advocating for new anti-trafficking laws and improving the capacity of Senegalese law enforcement and judiciary to respond effectively to human trafficking. 

With partner Free the Slaves, CenHTRO is serving survivors of sex trafficking with shelter and psychosocial services, and raising awareness to prevent trafficking in the future. These programs have already created an impact in Senegal. In late 2022 and early 2023, 35 survivors were removed from trafficking situations and repatriated to their home countries. 

“The importance of delivering programs that raise awareness of human trafficking and serve survivors cannot be overstated, particularly in and around magnet areas for trafficking such as this one,” said CenHTRO’s Senegal Program Manager Nnenne Onyioha-Clayton. “Programs should be first and foremost survivor-centered and informed, while delivering services that incorporate best practices regarding trauma and gender-sensitivity. Much work has been done in this regard, yet there is more that can be done to ensure that these programs deliver more contextually-sensitive, sustainable, long-term and positive impact on the lives of survivors and their communities. We are working closely with our in-country partners to ensure that this happens.”