“Trapped by online scams.” This was the theme chosen this year for the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, celebrated yesterday at the Hotel Panorama in Antananarivo. Organized by the National Bureau for the Fight Against Trafficking in Human Beings (BNLTEH), the ceremony highlighted a new form of exploitation gaining ground in Madagascar.
“Unfortunately, Madagascar is also affected by this new phenomenon,” declared Melanie Higgins, Chargée d’Affaires ad interim of the U.S. Embassy, sounding the alarm. She specifically mentioned fraudulent call centers already reported by the press this year. Young people recruited through fake job offers find themselves monitored, indebted, and forced to commit online fraud.
Despite this emerging threat, progress has been made in the fight against human trafficking. In 2025, Madagascar returned to “Tier 2” in the U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report, after three years on the watch list. “This is due to the government’s efforts in 2024 and 2025 to enforce the law against traffickers and protect victims,” the diplomat emphasized. She also praised the government’s commitment to fighting this scourge and the work of the BNLTEH.
Faced with this digital threat, the United States reaffirms its support for Madagascar, particularly through the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), to strengthen the capabilities of law enforcement. “Faced with such a serious danger, no country can face it alone,” concluded Melanie Higgins.
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-31 06:09:24 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/07/traite-des-personnes-madagascar.html