By Sue-Ann Wayow
“WE must all acknowledge that human trafficking is both a serious crime and a public health issue.”
This was the statement made by Minister of Social Development and Family Services Donna Cox on Wednesday.
Cox was speaking at the launch of Heal Empower Rise Counter Trafficking In Persons (HER CTIP) Project at the Brix Hotel in Port-of-Spain.
The HER CTIP Project is a multi-sector initiative of the United States Agency for International Development, Mission for Eastern and South Caribbean (USAID/ESC), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Development Programme, and is designed to aid survivors of human trafficking.
During her remarks, Cox stated that her ministry has recognised the complexity and seriousness of the issue and has drafted a manual on Victims Care for Social Service Providers.
Cox said, “The manual provides comprehensive information on the importance of adopting a victim-centred approach, the victims’ need for care and protection and the relevant agencies to contact, other basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter, the need for legal representation, the repatriation and reintegration of the victim, the role and importance of collaborating and cooperating with law enforcement, other government agencies and NGO service providers and referral to international bodies for victim”.
The manual will be circulated to stakeholders who provide services to victims of human trafficking following Cabinet’s approval.
Cox also said that through the National Family Services Division, victims of human trafficking can access psychological assessment and counselling and once eligible, can also access the food support, rental assistance and clothing grants offered through the Social Welfare Division of the Ministry.
The ‘HER CTIP’ project is expected to be implemented over a two-year period and will seek to expand and promote trauma-informed, age-appropriate, and gender and culturally sensitive psychosocial services and support to TIP survivors, improve the availability of other support services to survivors who are in select residential care and/or shelters and provide technical support to the Government to develop a TIP Roadmap/ Strategy that supports survivors of trafficking.
Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister (Gender and Child Affairs) Ayanna Webster-Roy, Shante Moore, US Embassy Charge d’Affaires Shante Moore, Regional Representative USAID/ ESC Clinton White, Head of Office, IOM, Jewel Ali also delivered remarks and pledged their joint commitment to provide support to victims of human trafficking.
