GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana government has welcomed the Tier I ranking by the United States about the country’s efforts at dealing with Trafficking in Persons (TIP).
The US State Department Thursday released the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report but noted that it has “decided to print the introduction section only this year, which excludes the country narratives.”
But in a statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons here said it “once again gives the Government and People of Guyana a “Tier 1” ranking in its efforts to combat trafficking in persons or human trafficking.
“This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of individual members of the Task Force, Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and all other stakeholders who assisted through increased reporting, training, awareness, proactive investigations, victim protection, and international and local partnership.”
The ministerial task force, which is co-chaired by Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn and Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, said the Tier 1 placement in the most recent edition of the Report makes it the seventh consecutive year that the Guyana government “has maintained sustained efforts to combat this crime, and more so, during and post a global health pandemic, increased use of online platforms, rising acts of migrant smuggling and evolving recruitment tactics of human traffickers.
“This year’s report, which focuses on partnerships, seeks to shed some light on this global and pervasive issue along with collective action taken by States, serves as a vital resource tool for the Ministerial Taskforce on Trafficking in Persons, law- enforcement officials and other stakeholders.”
The ministerial task force said that TIP “remains a deeply entrenched global issue, affecting millions of individuals across borders, age groups, and social- economic backgrounds.”
It said notwithstanding the universal challenges of this crime, the 2023 US State Department Report “has recognized our efforts for convicting three traffickers, identifying more victims and referring them to victim support services, consistently implementing a ten day – reflection period for victims, raising awareness in Indigenous languages, expanding the inclusivity of the Ministerial Taskforce on Trafficking in Persons, establishment of a new interviewing and screening center, continuous training of law-enforcement officials, initiating a program to screen children in situations of homelessness.
“Further, the report has included several recommendations that will enhance Guyana’s efforts to combat this crime and offer greater support to victims of human trafficking,” the ministerial task force added.
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