… with launch of information booklets on dangers, of human trafficking

THE Ministry of Social Protection, Counter Trafficking In Persons Unit (C-TIP Unit) has launched ‘Blu Resources’ – a compilation of literature aimed at educating persons on the dangers of human trafficking, the rights of survivors, and the role of persons in the fight to bring an end to the global phenomenon.

The information booklet on Trafficking in Persons – one of the materials produced by the C-TIP unit, clearly states Guyana’s position on this horrendous crime and includes additional information on the elements of human trafficking, the types or forms of Trafficking in Persons (TIP), the characteristics of persons at risk of becoming a victim of human trafficking, and how society can recognise the victims. It also includes information on the services available to survivors of human trafficking, and measures in place by the Guyana Government to combat this scourge.

Other materials include a hotel’s guide on Indicators of Trafficking in Persons 2018 Edition, and a handout on Myths and Facts surrounding Human Trafficking.

During the launch of the ‘Blu’ Resources’ at the Regency Hotel on Monday, the Coordinator of the C-TIP Unit Tanisha Williams-Corbin said that human trafficking continues to plague society, robbing it of its most valuable resources – men, women and children regardless of their nationality, social status or culture.

Alluding to the US State Department report, Williams-Corbin pointed out that Guyana has been identified as a source, origin and destination country for trafficking in persons. Between 2015 and 2018, approximately 365 victims of trafficking were assisted by the Ministry of Social Protection through the unit the C-TIP coordinator said.
Describing the figure as alarming, Williams-Corbin said that the victims of TIP in Guyana continue to be exploited sexually, and in the form of force labour often through debt bondage, deception and coercion.

Cognisant of the problem, she said the C-TIP unit has been executing a number of programmes and initiatives aimed at raising awareness, training public officers, combating human trafficking, and providing much needed assistance to survivors.

Building the Bridge Campaign and Bridging the Gap Campaign are some of the recent initiatives, along with the Blu’ Resources drive. According to Williams-Corbin, the unit has noticed a significant decrease in the number of cases in the targeted communities where awareness campaigns were held.

Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott, said that while slavery was abolished 180 years ago, the world is now faced with what is called Modern Day Slavery or Human Trafficking.

In Guyana, he said, the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act of 2005 was enacted with the aim of confronting, tackling and uprooting the scourge wherever it may exist.
“As a matter of fact, the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, which can be properly referred to as Act # 2 of 2005, has the potential of operationalising the Four Ps which constitute the philosophy of the fight against this evil. The Four Ps are: Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, and Partnership.

“Act No. 2 of 2005 is indeed a modern legislation created to defeat Modern Slavery, but long before its existence our nation demonstrated its commitment to a fair, humane treatment to human beings, when in 1966 we ratified several International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions including: Conventions No.’s 29 and 105, which prohibit and abhor forced labour which is subsumed in “Trafficking”,” minister Scott explained.
Guyana also ratified Convention No. 182 which seeks to eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labour.

Minister Scott disclosed that the labour department recently submitted to the government a draft Child Labour Policy for consideration, and consequently adoption and implementation.
“It is not unusual to hear, government along with scholars in economics and politics declare that the youths, including the children of any nation represents its future. Hence, they need to attract the greatest amount of investments and protection so that they can realise and maximise their full potentials and become productive citizens, enjoying the best quality of life available,” he said.

According to him, the APNU+AFC Government has placed a very high premium on the development of young people, on the basis that they are the “true game changers of the future.”

In its quest to counter human trafficking or exploitation within the labour force, the department of labour has implemented a new Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP), which is intended to promote and maintain human development.

Minister Scott noted, however, that the highest possible level of human development cannot be achieved if trafficking in persons is allowed to flourish.

He said the government has taken note of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report, that every year millions of women, men and children world-wide are deliberately made victims of human trafficking.

The APNU+AFC Government upon understanding that there is a direct correlation between poverty and human trafficking, has endorsed and support the United Nations 17 Strategic Development Goals – the first of which is to “End Poverty in all its forms”, the minister said,

To report a suspected case of trafficking in persons, persons are asked to contact the unit’s hotline numbers 227-4083 or 623-5030.