Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, the Hon. Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn says the Government of Jamaica welcomes the new partnership between the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Consular Corps of Jamaica to train and build awareness on human trafficking.
The State Minister was speaking at the Signing Ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding between the University of the West Indies and the Consular Corps of Jamaica, at the UWI Regional Headquarters in Kingston yesterday (December 14).
“This awareness building initiative will further enhance the Government’s thrust to combat human trafficking, as it is not only a Jamaican issue, but represents a global threat,” the Minister said.
She further added that the “Global estimates suggest that approximately 45.8 million persons are enslaved worldwide and women and girls account for 71% of the vast majority of all trafficking victims while 28% of all victims detected globally are children.”
As a result, the Minister said, there is greater need to increase awareness and engagement within the Ministries, Agencies and Departments as well as among other external stakeholders on Trafficking in Persons.
She noted that the new partnership is in alignment with the Global Plan of Action to combat Trafficking in Persons.
Minister Cuthbert-Flynn highlighted some of the significant achievements of the National Taskforce Against Trafficking in Persons (NATFATIP), while emphasising that the Government is committed to strengthening its efforts to combat human trafficking.
“Amendments have been made to the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Suppression and Punishment) Act 2021, we have rescued over 125 victims of trafficking,” she said.
Additionally, NATFATIP has developed a National Policy to Combat Trafficking in Persons. Five child-friendly spaces have been opened and two are expected to be opened soon.
“There is also the establishment of the National Rapporteur Against Trafficking in Persons- this is an independent oversight body and I want to emphasize that Jamaica is the first Caribbean country to establish a Trafficking in Persons Rapporteur and an office,” Minister Cuthbert-Flynn noted.
The State Minister reinforced the Government’s commitment to bring human traffickers to justice and supports every effort of the NATFATIP “to bolster its mandate and to strengthen and institutionalise consistent training to combat human trafficking”.
Human Trafficking is a serious transnational crime which is currently one of the world’s most heinous and lucrative crimes, referred to as modern slavery. It involves recruitment by deception or force, transportation across borders legally or illegally, or within a country for the purposes of exploitation.
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