The Criminal Policy of the Algerian Legislator in Confronting the Crime of Human Trafficking

Under Law No. 23-04 concerning the prevention and combating of human trafficking, the Algerian legislature has introduced several innovations and amendments to criminal policy.These include expanding the scope of criminalisation by adding ancillary offences and rendering the terminology more precise, as well as strengthening the protection of victims.In this context, the consent of an adult victim is not considered valid when trafficking means have been employed, whereas the consent of children is never recognised.Regarding penal policy, although the offense retains its classification as a misdemeanour, the penalties have been increased and made more severe to align with the international definition.Furthermore, the legislature has expanded the aggravating circumstances and, in some instances, reclassified the offense from a misdemeanour to a felony while amending the provisions concerning excuses to encourage reporting and contribute to reducing the risks associated with this crime.