Sun | Nov 3, 2024

Gov’t implementing framework to protect child victims of human trafficking

Published:Saturday | August 3, 2024 | 10:22 AM
Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn (second right), engages with (from left) National Secondary Students’ Council (NSSC) Region 5 Vice President, Anna-Ruth Parchment; Founder and Executive Director of the Jamaican Association for Debating and Empowerment (JADE), Germaine Barrett; media personality, Empress Golding; and Vice President of the NSSC for Region 3, Oshane Hall. Occasion was the National Taskforce Against Trafficking in Persons (NAFATIP) Youth Symposium held at the University of Technology (UTech) campus in St Andrew on July 30. - Contributed photo.

The Ministry of National Security is currently implementing the National Referral Mechanism Framework for interviewing child victims of human trafficking and witnesses.

State Minister, Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, said the framework uses a child-friendly approach during the investigation process to avoid retraumatising victims.

“That is very important because so often… you are interviewing children and they are traumatised all over again. So, I'm glad that attention is being made in that respect,” she said.

Cuthbert-Flyn was addressing the National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons (NAFATIP) Youth Symposium held at the University of Technology (UTech) campus in St Andrew on Tuesday, July 30.

She reiterated the Government's commitment to tackling the issues of human tracking.

“To date, we have opened 10 child-friendly spaces right across the island for interviewing and assisting child victims. These multidisciplinary spaces provide child victims and witnesses with a safe, private location to access immediate law enforcement and medical attention and additional services, in a trauma-informed setting,” she pointed out.

“Additionally, we have three operational 24-hour hotlines for the public to report incidents of human trafficking through the Child Protection and Family Services Agency, the Office of the Children's Advocate and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF),” she said.

The Youth Symposium was held under the theme 'Leave No Child Behind, Fight Against Human Trafficking”.

Cuthbert-Flynn commended NATFATIP for organising the symposium to engage in active discussion with the youth and key stakeholders around the topic of human trafficking.

“As we continue to strengthen our collaborative efforts, I implore all of you today to demand justice for these child victims and to support the tireless efforts of law enforcement and social workers.

“As you know, we have more social workers out there. We also have more law-enforcement personnel out there, and so, we're asking you to join in.

This requires an all-hands-on deck approach to win this fight against human trafficking,” she said.

- JIS News

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.