PROSECUTION
The government increased anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts. All forms of human trafficking are prohibited by the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention and Suppression) Act 2008, which prescribes penalties ranging from three years to life imprisonment; these penalties are sufficiently stringent and commensurate with penalties prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape. The government reported 13 new labor and sex trafficking investigations involving 50 potential victims from other Caribbean countries, South and Central America, and Asia, a decrease from 15 investigations in 2013. Authorities ultimately classified only seven of the 50 as victims of human trafficking, which highlighted ongoing concerns that officials often view foreign nationals first through the lens of illegal migration rather than as potential trafficking victims. Officials reportedly screened for trafficking indicators in all cases. One trafficker was convicted for sex trafficking, unlawful withholding of identification documents, and promoting prostitution and sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. Another trafficker from a previous conviction under the trafficking act and other statutes, was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment. In addition, the government initiated three new human trafficking prosecutions during the reporting period. The government did not report any investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of government officials complicit in human trafficking offenses. Government officials funded and delivered training on identifying and assisting victims and investigating and prosecuting traffickers for police, investigators, prosecutors, judges, and other officials.The government provided more than 300 employees of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), Department of Immigration, and Department of Public Health officials with training on human trafficking. All new RBDF and RBPF recruits were required to complete a human trafficking  awareness  training module.

PROTECTION
The government sustained efforts to protect victims. Authorities continued to implement a formal victim-centered protocol to guide front-line responders in how to identify trafficking victims and refer them to services. In 2014, the government screened 48 potential adult victims—40 adult females and eight adult males— and two potential child victims, all foreign nationals, in connection with 13 new investigations, compared with 15 new investigations in the previous reporting period. Authorities identified seven sex trafficking victims and referred these victims for appropriate care and assistance including housing, medical assistance, psychological counseling, legal assistance, immigration services, and reintegration assistance. The government reported spending approximately 47,600 Bahamian dollars ($47,600) on trafficking victims’ care, including subsidies to three NGOs. Authorities placed victims in housing rented by the government and facilitated the repatriation of six identified victims, at their request, while making efforts to ensure their participation in ongoing prosecutions.The government provided foreign victims with legal alternatives to their removal to countries in which they would face retribution or hardship and granted temporary immigration relief. Authorities encouraged trafficking victims to assist in prosecutions and amended criminal procedure and evidence laws in 2014 to allow trafficking victims potential entry into witness protection programs and to make trafficking witnesses’ testimony by video admissible. In addition, the Criminal Procedure Code allows trafficking victims to submit statements to the court prior to the sentencing of traffickers.
The 2008 anti-trafficking act also provides victims with immunity from prosecution for unlawful acts committed as a direct result

of being subjected to trafficking; however, there were no reports of such immunity being granted in 2014. The UN Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons expressed concern over the small number of trafficking victims formally identified among vulnerable populations and the government’s restrictive immigration policies, which made it difficult for individuals to obtain legal status, thus leaving them vulnerable to trafficking. In response to these concerns, the government mandated all foreign nationals apprehended or arrested be screened for trafficking indicators, developed standard operating procedures, and engaged the public to assist in victim identification. Some potential victims were interviewed while in police custody or in other detention-like settings.

PREVENTION
The government increased prevention efforts and took important steps to inform the public and potential victims about trafficking. The government’s inter-ministerial committee to coordinate anti-trafficking policy met regularly, as did the government’s anti- trafficking taskforce, which was charged with ensuring operational coordination on trafficking cases. The government conducted a nationwide public awareness campaign, which educated students about human trafficking, disseminated pamphlets in various public venues to inform potential victims of their rights and available resources, and continued to air public service announcements on television and radio throughout the country. The government, in partnership with NGOs, developed and approved a 2014-2018 national anti-trafficking strategy and detailed action plan with goals related to government infrastructure, prevention, victim and witness protection, investigation and prosecution, partnerships, an implementation timeline, dedicated financial and human resources, and indicators to evaluate progress. Labor inspectors reported using indicators to screen for trafficking when inspecting labor sites. The government provided anti-trafficking training or guidance for its diplomatic personnel.The government conducted awareness efforts targeted at potential clients of the sex trade or forced labor; it closed some sex trade establishments, conducted random inspections and conducted raids on strip clubs and bars to hold purchasers of commercial sexual services accountable.Authorities did not consider child sex tourism to be a problem inThe Bahamas and reported no child sex tourism investigations.

BAHRAIN:  Tier 2 
Bahrain is a destination country for men and women subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking. Men and women from South and Central Asia, and East Asia; East and West Africa, Uzbekistan, and other countries migrate voluntarily to Bahrain to work as domestic workers or as unskilled laborers in the construction and service industries. In recent years, NGOs observed a greater influx of workers from parts of East Africa. Some migrant workers face forced labor after arriving in Bahrain, experiencing unlawful withholding of passports, restrictions on movement, contract substitution, nonpayment of wages, threats, and physical or sexual abuse. Government and NGO officials report physical abuse and sexual assault of female domestic workers are significant problems in Bahrain; strict confinement to the household, withholding of workers’ identity cards and passports, and intimidation by employers prevents some of these workers from reporting abuse. NGOs report male Bangladeshi unskilled workers are in high demand and are considered by employers to be exploitable as they typically do not protest difficult work conditions or low pay.