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Stiffer Penalties for Trafficking in Persons

By: , August 27, 2021
Stiffer Penalties for Trafficking in Persons
Photo: Yhomo Hutchinson
Manager, Trafficking in Persons Secretariat, Ministry of National Security, Chenee Russell Robinson

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The Ministry of National Security (MNS) National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons (NATFATIP) says that the recent amendments to the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Act signals its intent to reduce trafficking in persons locally.

Speaking with JIS News, MNS Trafficking in Persons Secretariat Manager, Chenee Russell Robinson, said that among the amendments made earlier this year is that the penalty of convicted persons facing a fine only under the Act was removed.

“Previously, it was imprisonment or fine or both. However, now a person convicted of trafficking can only be imprisoned or imprisoned and fined, so you cannot be fined only. So, that amendment was made this year,” she explained.

According to Mrs Russell Robinson, this is a part of the Government’s measures to prevent and combat trafficking in persons.

“We believe that trafficking is a dire crime, it has a psychological impact on the victims [whose] lives can be destroyed, and it is a breach of human rights, and it falls under transnational organised crime. We believe that to reflect the nature of this crime, a fine alone is not sending a signal to persons that this is a type of crime that we need to get rid of from our shores,” she said.

She also added that the amendments reflected international standards and best practices.

“We have reviewed the laws regionally and internationally and this is the nature of their fines for trafficking in persons. So, with most laws it is imprisonment or imprisonment and a fine, along with restitution, which is paid to the victim included in the Act as well,” she noted.

The TIP Act was enacted in 2007 to prescribe measures to prevent and combat trafficking in persons. It was updated in 2013 and again in 2018, to enable a judge to try trafficking offences without a jury.

Since the formation of the Jamaica Constabulary Force Anti-Trafficking in Persons Unit in 2006, some 108 victims have been identified and rescued up to July this year. Of this number, 45 were males and 63 were females. Sixty-five victims were under the age of 18 years with females being particularly vulnerable to exploitation

The NATFATIP was established in June 2005 as a multi-agency approach to enhance national capacity and to develop and implement Jamaica’s legislative, institutional and operational response for combatting trafficking in persons.

Last Updated: August 27, 2021

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