Human trafficking efforts commended

Regional countries are being lauded for the efforts that they have been making to combat human trafficking, individually and region-wide.

It has come from the recently appointed Representative of the UN Women Multi-Country Office of the Caribbean, Christine Arab.

Assessing the situation in the region at this time, Arab said that like other countries worldwide, young women are counted among the most vulnerable in cases of human trafficking, but she said that the fact that the governments do not appear to treat these women as criminals and rather as victims that need to be helped, is important and is to be commended.

She was referring to cases in such countries as Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad, which have exposed instances of human trafficking in recent times.

“I think it is unfortunate that such cases had to happen, but I think it is important that the Government of Barbados is taking it so seriously, and I think it is excellent that you have key member states in the United Nations that have also prioritised monitoring governments’ performance based on how they deal with human trafficking,” she maintained.

Modern slavery

The UN official added, “It matters that the American Government will look in every country and say you are a tier 1, you’re a tier 2, you’re a tier 3 – they’ve done this consistently for years and it is important that this is information that is captured. It is modern slavery and it is appalling and I can’t think of a much worse practice frankly.”

She made the point as she noted that one of the risks involved in cracking down on human trafficking is that the victims, who are often forced to be involved in prostitution, which is an illegal act, are treated as criminals.

She said unfortunately the victims and the traffickers are all lumped together, and it is important that all countries recognise that such a practice cannot be right.

With that in mind, Arab noted that uncovering suspected human trafficking rings is a new challenge for the law enforcement of some countries, in which there has not been a perception that trafficking is an issue, but now they must keep an eye out.

As such, she said that there are a number of steps that have to be taken for any government to readily address the issue.

Regional problem recognised

Meanwhile, the UN Women official said that while her office never specifically tackled trafficking in the region, they recognise the problem and have sponsored some assessments with regional universities on sex workers.

“In the Caribbean, in some countries, there has probably been a perception that that is not an issue we face here, especially because you have small populations and surely you would hear of someone being taken into trafficking; and surely you would hear of someone actually being trafficked.

“Our position is grounded in the International Human Rights Convention, and grounded in the Convention for the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against women, which makes clear that countries have to do everything within their power to prevent being a conduit of trafficking, a source of trafficking and a recipient of trafficking,” she said. (JRT)