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Articles 1 (paragraph 1), 2 (paragraph 1), and 25, of the Convention. Trafficking in persons and imposition of effective penal sanctions. The Committee noted previously that pursuant to Act No. 137-03 on the unlawful trafficking of migrants and human trafficking, a number of measures had been taken to prevent and combat human trafficking including two judgements of the courts of Santiago and Santo Domingo imposing prison sentences and fines. The Committee requested the Government to provide copies of the abovementioned judgements together with information on any other measures taken or envisaged to combat human trafficking. The Committee notes that the Government has not supplied the information requested.

The Committee observes that trafficking in persons is a serious violation of the Convention. It takes due note of the adoption of a constitutional provision prohibiting all forms of human trafficking. The Committee hopes that in its next report the Government will provide the information requested in view of the fact that, according to information from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Dominican Republic is still recognized as a country of origin, transit and destination of victims of trafficking, and that there are large numbers of victims, estimated at 50,000 persons.