Gov’t Educating Public on Human Trafficking

The Government has been staging public education campaigns to heighten awareness of the dangers of human trafficking, Justice Minister and Attorney General, Senator the Hon. Dorothy Lightbourne Q.C., has disclosed.
She was speaking at the opening of a two-day workshop on the theme: “Human Trafficking: A legal, medical/healthcare, economic and social dilemma”, hosted by the Ministry of Health at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge and Conference Centre, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, on Tuesday (February 23).
Human trafficking is defined as the practice of humans being tricked, lured, coerced or otherwise removed from their home or country, and forced to work with no or low payment, or in terms which are highly exploitative.
Senator Lightbourne said the administration was aware of the fact that the fight against human trafficking did not only entail prosecution, but also prevention and protection, hence the need for the public education campaign.
She said that the administration collaborated with a number of agencies to train, educate and assist stakeholders.
Senator Lightbourne stated that efforts are being made to curtail human trafficking through the island’s formal points of entry , and persons are being denied entry at local ports where trafficking is suspected.
These are positive steps toward what is needed to successfully win the fight against human trafficking in the region, she said.
“It is imperative that a strong network of collaboration between all the stakeholders involved in this fight is established, as the perpetrators seek more and more to disguise their activities. As they become more organized, so should we,” Senator Lightbourne stressed.
The workshop, which ended Wednesday (February 24), brought together stakeholders from various sectors and interests to discuss the issue of human trafficking, and the way forward in effectively addressing the matter.
The Ministry of Health staged the event, in collaboration with the Organization for Strategic Development in Jamaica (OSDJ), the Norman Manley Law School, UWI and the International Leadership Institute.