The Maldives faces considerable issues in combatting trafficking in persons, and is currently ranked Tier 2 on the US Trafficking in Persons report as of 2022, having been upgraded in from the Tier 2 Watch List in 2020.

IOM approaches trafficking in persons within the overall context of migration management. IOM implements a broad range of activities alongside the Government of the Maldives, NGOs, international organizations and the private sector. IOM adheres to three principles in all counter-trafficking activities:

  • Respect for human rights;
  • Physical, mental and social well-being of the individual, and his or her community;
  • Sustainability through institutional capacity building of governments and civil society

IOM conducts capacity building trainings for various public- and private-sector stakeholders in Male’ and other islands to increase their awareness and support their response to human-trafficking, provides direct assistance to migrants in vulnerable situations and conducts nationwide awareness raising campaigns.

IOM also conducts both quantitative and qualitative research to support the fight against human trafficking. Specific research areas include studying human trafficking routes and trends, the causes and consequences of human trafficking both for the individual trafficked person and for society, as well as the structures, motivations.

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