Gov't to educate J'cans on human trafficking

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck says the Government will be increasing its public-education drive to sensitise communities in rural Jamaica and inner city areas about the scourge of human trafficking.

He said the ministry will be more aggressive, this year, in public education, especially in rural Jamaica where communities or people are deemed to be at risk.

According to Chuck a significant number of communities in deep rural Jamaica and inner cities are isolated, hard to reach and less informed about crimes relating to sexual exploitation and child labour.

"People need to understand that human trafficking occurs across borders and within country; is for a range of exploitative purposes; victimises women, children and men and takes place with or without the involvement of organised crime groups."

In his remarks at a ceremony Thursday at the Ministry of Justice, Constant Spring Road in Kingston, to hand-over a Toyota bus to the Anti Trafficking in Persons Unit, Chuck said that it was disheartening to hear of reports of human trafficking, and in particular, women tricked into sexual slavery and even gang-raped.

He appealed to parents and guardians to talk to their children about how to make wise decisions and protect themselves.

Chuck warned children not to give information to strangers on social media platforms. "Do not give information about yourself and your family that can be used to harm you. Most importantly, do not agree to meet anyone who you have met on social media."

Highlighting what he described as the common forms of human trafficking in Jamaica, Chuck urged members of the public to pay keen attention to characters who are recruiting persons as models, to work overseas, in massage parlours or nightclubs.