Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Dianne McIntosh,
says there has been an increase in the number of victims of human trafficking,
who have been rescued.
“In addition, there has been a marked divergence from earlier discerned
trends, as male victims have also been rescued from bonded labour in early
2011,” she stated.
Ms. McIntosh’s remarks came in a speech read by Policy Director for Border
Security and Control in the Ministry, Orane Bailey, during yesterday’s
(February 6) opening of a training workshop on human trafficking at the Jamaica
Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston.
She credits the gains to ongoing interventions on the part of the Government
through education and training and equipping relevant personnel to fight the
scourge.
She also cited decisive action by the National Task Force Against
Trafficking in Persons to finalise its work plan and revamp the National Plan
of Action for combating trafficking in persons.The National Task Force has the
mandate of enhancing the government’s capacity to address trafficking in
persons by guiding, coordinating, and monitoring efforts to suppress human
trafficking.
This is in addition to the training of 15 telephone operators from the
811/Crime Stop hotline and the Office of the Children’s Registry in conducting
Trafficking in Persons Hotline Telephone Management.
The Permanent Secretary also pointed to assistance from international partners
such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which has
facilitated assistance to victims on matters such as repatriation,
establishment of an action plan to address migration, and continuous
sensitisation and training of frontline personnel.
"Today’s workshop is in keeping with the partnership between the
government and the IOM to better equip law enforcement personnel, immigration
officials, social services officers, health workers, prosecutors and other
stakeholders, with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively and
efficiently identify and assist victims of human trafficking,” she stated.
“The continual and comprehensive training of frontline workers is critical
in order to adequately equip the state to fight trafficking on all levels,” she
added.
The Permanent Secretary said the workshop, which is being held over three
days, is timely, given the gravity of the issue of human trafficking worldwide,
which affects 161 countries, with 127 being countries of origin, 98 transit countries,
and 137 deemed destination countries.
Stating government’s commitment to providing frontline personnel and other
critical stakeholders with the necessary tools to fight human trafficking, she
urged the participants to use the skills and knowledge gained “to assist in
your daily care and handling |