Human trafficking must be confronted

TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor,
Guyana is talking about nabbing people involved in trafficking in persons (TIP), but it seems as though people lack awareness of this problem. Trafficking in persons is a serious crime that has many human rights violations.
It covers the very act of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harbouring, or receiving a person through the use of force, coercion or other means, for the express purpose of exploiting him/ her. News reports recently indicated that a 48- year- old man was granted bail at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court on a charge of trafficking in persons. The details show that sometime between November 14, 2012 and December 24, 2012, the accused lured a female to a night club for the purpose of trafficking. I believe that many of these women have had their basic human rights violated.
Incidents like these are being told in hushed tones, but so far nothing is coming out of them. For example, in India and Burma – there is a big cry from Human Rights Watch to the Human Rights Council members to support a resolution that would establish international investigation into TIP. In fact, one United Nations rights envoy visiting Burma has warned that human rights violations in the country are continuing, as the government’s ongoing reform process is lacking in its implementation on the ground. Guyana has lofty ideals, but a compromising culture is undermining efforts. Maybe, Human Rights Watch should be considered.
Yours faithfully,
Juliet Goberdhan

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