THE Counter Trafficking in Persons Unit (C-TIP) of the Ministry of Social Protection is today heightening awareness campaigns against human trafficking as Guyana joins the rest of the world in celebrating International Day for the Abolition of Slavery.

Acting Coordinator of the C-TIP Unit, Tanisha Williams-Corbin, told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that human trafficking is modern-day slavery, and the C-TIP Unit would be creating awareness of this scourge under the theme “Look out, Speak out and Take down.”

Williams-Corbin explained that the C-TIP Unit is not taking TIP lightly, especially since the offence is on the increase. She explained that as part of awareness campaigns planned to sensitise citizens on human trafficking, the unit has designed awareness banners that would be showcased at key areas across the country. One is mounted at the Ministry of Social Protection’s Cornhill and Lombard Streets’ location, and another would be mounted at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle, East Coast Demerara.

“We chose our areas through strategic measures (in which) we basically focus on transport routes. We’re looking at the Stabroek, Parika and Vreed-en-Hoop stellings, and the Mahdia and Linden areas. (Our aim is) to raise awareness of trafficking in persons today, as we observe International Day for the Abolition of Slavery today,” Williams-Corbin explained.

The acting coordinator noted that the aim of the awareness campaigns is to encourage reporting of cases. “When we do these activities, there are more reports coming into the unit. And so we have the hotline numbers on the banners (to enable) persons to have access to the unit and report on suspected cases of trafficking in Guyana,” Williams-Corbin explained.

December 2 is known worldwide as the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. The day marks the date the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Convention for the Suppression of Trafficking in Persons, and the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others. The focus of this day is on eradicating contemporary forms of slavery, such as TIP, sexual exploitation, the worst forms of child labour, forced marriage, and the forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict.

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), there are currently an estimated 21 million forced labour victims worldwide, creating US$150 billion in illegal profits in the private economy each year.

(GINA)