A new Combatting of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Act, which will govern the response and prosecution of TIP cases, is currently being drafted for consideration, and is expected to be completed by year’s end.
According to a Ministry of Social Protection release, Tanisha Williams- Corbin, Coordinator of the Counter-Trafficking in Persons (C-TIP) Unit at the Ministry of Social Protection, explained that the old Act, passed in 2005, had to be reviewed. As a result, consultations were held and a new Act drafted.
The ministry noted that they are currently in the process of reviewing various Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) outlined in the Act, which, after being approved, will be put forward to legislators.
“The Ministry of Social Protection has received the final draft of the investigation and prosecution SOPs and we have since submitted our final comments to the consultant Ms. Diana Shaw. Once the document is returned to the Ministry, we will sign on to the SOPs along with our partners,” Williams- Corbin related.
It was stated that the consultant will also review the protection and reintegration SOPs, which deal with the provision of psychosocial support to victims of TIP.
Following that, bilateral meetings and validation workshops will be held, with the hopes that the final document will be finished by the end of the year.
The drafting of the new Act falls under an initiative funded by the United States Department of State. The project is being implemented by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), which, in collaboration with the Ministerial Task Force for TIP, held consultations with stakeholders.
Other recent partnerships between the IOM and the ministry included a Regional Thematic Meeting on Trafficking in Human Beings and Smuggling of Migrants, held at the Ramada Princess Hotel.
According to the release, Williams-Corbin, along with her unit, participated in the forum, which was funded by the United States Embassy and other partners, and organised by IOM.
Williams-Corbin related that initiatives which can help the unit to better respond and prosecute TIP cases were noted at the said meeting, including ways to strengthen regional collaboration in combatting TIP, joint surprise inspection frameworks across the region and improving data sharing across the region.
Additionally, the meeting spurred the formation of a smaller working group that will be tasked specifically with responding to Venezuelan migrant situation, with specific focus placed on the exploitation of workers.
“The Ministry has already upped its game for responding to TIP cases involving the influx of Venezuelans. However, through the regional collaboration we will be able to see what the other countries are doing and adapt similar measures. We will also be able to identify any gaps in our system that we can strengthen and we can also share our best practices with the other countries,” William-Corbin noted.
It was pointed out that the unit has been providing and will continue to provide support to TIP victims, assisting them with their return home and reintegration into their respective communities.
