Ministry reports of 28 suspected TIP victims for 2016

May 21, 2016 News

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-fighting “heartless”, “soulless” traffickers with education

As at yesterday, 13 cases of Trafficking In Persons (TIP) have gained the attention of the “Counter-Trafficking In Persons Unit” of the Ministry of Social Protection for this year. These cases have accounted for 28 suspected victims of TIP,

according to Acting Coordinator of the “Counter-Trafficking-In Persons Unit”, Mrs. Tanisha Williams-Corbin.
All of the alleged victims, she disclosed, were exposed to voluntary psychosocial support as is mandated by the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act of 2005. This support, according to her, include: medical services, counselling service, legal services, food, clothing and shelter, training opportunities, academic opportunities and job placements.
The alleged TIP cases are currently gaining the attention of the Guyana Police Force which, according to Williams-Corbin, has been working closely with the Ministry.
Williams-Corbin’s disclosure came yesterday at a forum to launch that is being described as the ‘Jubilee Edition’ Trafficking in Persons educational materials. The launch was hosted at the Cornhill Street, Stabroek, Georgetown, Ministry of Social Protection location.
According to Williams-Corbin, in January the Ministry recorded two suspected human trafficking cases involving two alleged victims. Both cases, according to her, were alleged to be cross border trafficking.
And then in February five cases of human trafficking involving eight alleged victims were recorded. The following month the Ministry recorded two more suspected cases involving seven alleged victims, Williams-Corbin said.
For April there were 10 alleged victims involved in three suspected cases of human trafficking that also gained the attention of the Ministry.
“As at today’s date, May 20, the Ministry has recorded one suspected case of human trafficking involving one alleged victim,” Williams-Corbin divulged yesterday.
EDUCATION IS KEY
And the Counter-Trafficking In Person Coordinator said, “We at the Ministry of Social Protection have recognised the key to winning against those heartless, soulless traffickers is education.”
Education and knowledge of trafficking in persons across all sectors of society are key elements of suppressing the work of human traffickers. It is for this reason, she noted, that the introduction of the educational materials and novelties is a rather strategic tactic.
“We pledge to continue to educate the Guyanese populace in efforts to increasing awareness to encourage reporting of suspected cases of human trafficking,” said Williams-Corbin.
According to her, the Counter Trafficking Unit, as promised by the ruling Administration, has expanded to better serve the needs of those vulnerable persons, identified alleged victims and to better execute its mandate. In this regard, she added that the Unit now features two experienced probation officers and a passionate police rank.
In addition to herself, the Unit also has the services of a Technical Officer and a Clerk. However, in the near future the Ministry will also be seeking to have its own legal officer as well, Williams-Corbin added.
Currently, the Social Protection Ministry has several programmes and departments aimed at addressing the root causes of human trafficking, particularly poverty, according to the Acting Coordinator.
And she related yesterday that the Ministry’s intent is to provide services such as counselling, public assistance to alleviate poverty; psychosocial support based on the ‘Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act of 2005’ to alleged victims and survivors of human trafficking to reduce their vulnerabilities of being re-victimised.
The provision of vocational training to the public to reduce alleged victims’ vulnerability is also seen as important as is the provision of grants and loans to at risk families, according to Williams-Corbin.
She also amplified the Ministry’s efforts at enforcement of the Labour Laws of Guyana and protection of workers’ rights, and the enforcement of laws relating to protection of all children.
The Ministry, according to the Coordinator, is also tasked with conducting workshops and awareness campaigns, providing educational materials etc., to heighten awareness and sensitise the public on the phenomena.
And the Ministry’s annual work plan as it relates to awareness campaigns, Williams-Corbin said, includes roadside gaffs, school awareness sessions, community awareness sessions, structured awareness sessions for community leaders, distribution of educational materials and novelties and awareness sessions with social minority groups inclusive of the Guyana Sex Workers Coalition and SASOD.
But this is in addition to activities executed through the Ministry’s Ministerial Task Force, Williams-Corbin said.
For three consecutive years, the United States, “State Department’s TIP Report” had placed Guyana on the Tier Two Watch List. This means that Guyana does not yet fully meet the minimum international standards for eliminating TIP, but the country is making efforts to do so.
Since the Trafficking in Persons Act was enacted, very little was done to make the legislation useful and effective.
In this regard, Government announced its plans to reconvene meetings of the TIP Ministerial Task Force on this year.
Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence, moreover, disclosed that Government recognises the negative impacts of human trafficking, and will take proactive measures to address this scourge, by putting a system in place that is aimed at its eradication.
In observance of World Human Trafficking Day, which is celebrated annually on July 30, the Coordinator said that the Ministry will be launching its ‘Look Out, Speak Up and Take Down Flash Mob’ that will be showcased at hotspots.
Additionally, the Ministry will be launching its first ever Victims’ Rights Handbook. This book, according to Williams-Corbin, is intended to be a simple guide to the various stakeholders in helping victims to realise, understand, accept and demand their rights.

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