Chang banking on anti-trafficking in persons policy
Published:Saturday | January 18, 2025 | 12:09 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang says the development of a National Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Policy is geared towards combating global trafficking in persons, which generates approximately US$236 billion in illegal profits annually.
According to Chang, this policy will supplement the existing TIP (Prevention, Suppression, and Punishment) Amendment Act 2021, providing a comprehensive plan for TIP activities, noting that the implementation of this policy reaffirms the Government’s commitment to reinforcing strategies to aid in the fight against human trafficking.
“The policy places at the forefront, a national plan of action that identifies human trafficking as a risk to our most vulnerable people and, indeed, we are looking at children and women in particular. There is some trafficking involving labour among young boys,” Chang said while sharing that individuals who are vulnerable to human trafficking are usually from a particular socioeconomic demography.
Chang made the pronouncement while addressing a training course on the introduction of the heightening awareness to combat human trafficking, which was hosted by the Office of the National Rapporteur on TIP, at The Jewel Grande, Montego Bay Resort and Spa yesterday.
“Trafficking in Persons is a crime that knows no borders, has no regard for the rights or lives of individuals, and preys on the most vulnerable in society. It is a reprehensible, cowardly and despicable crime that continues to plague every country in the world, particularly because of its lucrative nature,” explained Chang.
“I understand from the crime statistics that it is maybe the most valuable criminal activity. It’s low-key but it earned a huge amount of money, because apparently those who are involved in the various aspects of trafficking will pay good money and oftentimes they are very wealthy,” Chang told stakeholders from the Jamaica Constabulary Force, guidance counsellors, Jamaica Customs, Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information and the hospitality sector.
Chang, who is also the country’s deputy prime minister, said modern-day slavery is one of the fastest growing forms of international crimes, and is estimated to be among the most profitable crimes in the world.
“As a matter of fact, the International Labour Organization Report of 2024 estimates that globally trafficking in persons generates approximately US$236 billion in illegal profits each year in the exploitation, abuse and murder of children and women in particular,” he said, adding that in Jamaica the data confirms that the main perpetrators of child trafficking are parents and guardians.
“We must therefore become very sensitive to the issue and begin to pay attention, very closely, to what is happening especially at our ports of entry and exit,” said Chang in encouraging a national embrace of the digital anti-human trafficking course.
“We must therefore sensitise across all sectors, utilising all formal sectors, to curb the disturbing trends. This digital Anti-Human Trafficking Course will attract the attention of our youngsters – they are innately digital, it’s obviously a course for the digital generation but we can all use it, access it and learn to be more sensitive and aware of the risk faced in trafficking,” he added.