Minister Lawrence calls for more collaboration to end human trafficking

…103 trafficking cases recorded for the year thus far

Some 103 children were trafficked for the year thus far when compared to 63 last year. This disclosure was made by Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence on Wednesday, at the launch of the ‘State of the World Population Report for 2016.’

The Minister stated that stakeholders must collaborate to end the scourge of trafficking in children. This comes on the backdrop of an international outcry against the crime which targets mostly young, vulnerable women and children.

The Social Protection Minister suggested that while there seems to be a “bleak and gloomy” picture painted over trafficking in Guyana, more has to be done to end the crime.

“We must intensify our efforts to curb this malignant ill and restore dignity and respect to our children,” she highlighted.

Compared with the cases recorded in 2015, it was disclosed that January to December figures have shown a 37 per cent increase in reported cases of trafficked children.

“In 2015, there were 65 cases of which three were male and 59 female and three unverified; [for January to October 2016]; 103 alleged victims of which six are male and 97 are female… females below the age of 18,” the Minister revealed.

She further highlighted that data reveals that the number of alleged victims for the first four years was fairly constant, whereas the 2016 figures show a “significant increase, almost doubling what pertained in 2012.”

Examining the statistics that Minister Lawrence presented, it was revealed that in 2012, there were 54 alleged child trafficking victims, which included five males and 30 females, while the remainder was of the “unverified sex”.

Figures in 2013 indicated 56 victims (11 males, 52 females, three unverified), whereas 2014 stats stood at 59 alleged cases (11 males, 51 females, two unverified). The Social Protection Minister also explained that the Labour Act, Sexual Offences Act and Trafficking in Persons Act all include measures that are aimed to prevent trafficking of children.

“Each of these Acts is geared to provide protection against perpetrators for our vulnerable groups, specifically women and children,” Lawrence stated. She added that there will be street “gyaffs” and school talks to encourage children of their rights against being forced into such practices.

“I know you students are on Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and everything else and I am challenging you to speak out when you know something or you hear something,” stressed the Social Protection Minister.

It has been widely reported that the number of persons and children who are victims of human trafficking is difficult to monitor, which causes many cases to go underreported. The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) announced last month that over 50 per cent of Guyanese trafficked are children.

The internal body had expressed concern over the fact that Guyana’s economy is heavily reliant on its extractive and timber industries which it contended might generate violations of children’s rights. (ShemuelFanfair)