THE Counter-Trafficking in Persons (C-TIP) Unit of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force, recently conducted a series of anti-trafficking outreach activities in Mahdia, Region Eight.

According to the ministry, the initiative aimed to raise awareness among vulnerable households and build community capacity to prevent exploitation.

In total, the collaborative effort sensitised more than 1,200 persons across the region, significantly enhancing community awareness and strengthening local capacity in the fight against human trafficking.

The ministry mentioned that 35 families participated in interactive sessions under the theme “Building the Bridge and Bridging the Gaps”, which focused on strengthening family units through topics such as effective parenting techniques, monitoring children’s use of cellular phones, the role of positive parental influence, and creating open home environments.

Additionally, capacity-building sessions were held with government officials and representatives from the Guyana Defence Force, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and regional agencies.

Training covered key areas including the definition and forms of human trafficking, identifying indicators of exploitation, referral pathways, and procedures for reporting suspected cases, the ministry said.

In August, the ministry hosted another two-day sensitisation exercise along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway from August 12 to 13, 2025. The aim of that activity was to boost community awareness, strengthen partnerships, and encourage action against human trafficking, particularly the exploitation of youths.

The ministry’s C-TIP Unit is responsible for the provision of comprehensive psychosocial support services to victims and survivors of human trafficking, including migrants and remigrants; the development and dissemination of awareness materials to combat human trafficking in Guyana; training and manning of focal points on human trafficking throughout Guyana; manning of the national hotline numbers for safe reporting of suspected human trafficking cases; and basic assistance and referral pathway for services to vulnerable migrants.