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Collaboration with US State Department ‘Concrete Evidence’ of Bahamas' Commitment to War Against Trafficking in Persons
By Matt Maura, BIS
May 25, 2016 - 4:29:21 PM

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Officials from the Ministry of National Security and the US Department of State's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Washington, D.C., recently teamed up to host and facilitate a two-day Trafficking in Persons Workshop at the Paul H. Farquharson Conference Centre. The conclusions of the workshop are expected to lead to the establishment of a manual of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Minister of National Security, the Hon. Dr. Bernard J. Nottage (seated centre) applauded the local TIP Committee and officials at the United States Embassy, Nassau; those from the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Washington, D.C.; and representatives from the various government ministries and agencies involved in the war, for their efforts. (BIS Photo/Derek Smith)

NASSAU, The Bahamas – The partnership formed between the Ministry of National Security and the Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Washington D.C., is “concrete evidence” of the Government’s recognition and acceptance of the fact that countries must work together in the war against Trafficking in Persons, Minister of National Security the Hon. Dr. Bernard J. Nottage said recently.

Officials from the Ministry of National Security and the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Washington D.C., teamed up to host and facilitate a two-day Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Workshop, May 18-20, that was attended by local national security, law enforcement, social services, foreign affairs, immigration, health, labour, education and training officials, representatives from key non-governmental agencies and officials from the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Legal Affairs. The workshop was held at the Paul H. Farquharson Conference Centre at Police Headquarters.

Dr. Nottage declared the workshop an important step in the Government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its institutions by “building the capacity of our people” to recognize and take the necessary actions to deflect any semblance of trafficking in persons encountered during the course of their duties.

“It was also timely as our Government seeks to put in place the proper mechanisms to counter trafficking in persons in its multi-faceted approach to dealing with all forms of criminal activities within the country.”

The National Security Minister said “it is a known fact” that the crime of trafficking in persons is tied to many other transnational crimes including drug trafficking, gun smuggling, and money laundering.

It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of men, women and children become victims of traffickers who violate their human rights and dignity by exploiting them and forcing them to work under inhumane conditions or engage in commercial sexual activity for the financial gain of another, annually.

A 2000 United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children (UN Protocol) defines Trafficking in Persons as: “The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a person by means of the threat or use of force or other means of coercion, or by abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability, or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person for the purpose of exploitation.”

“Since 2012, the response of the Government of The Bahamas in combating the scourge of trafficking in persons has been deliberate, consistent and extensive. I am of the view that prevention is the key ingredient in the fight against this horrific crime. It is the course that the Government is taking in bringing order to this problem. Our goals for prevention relate to awareness raising and education, reduction of vulnerability to TIP and putting administrative controls in place.”

The workshop, Dr. Nottage said, helped in this regard.

“This is why we brought together, in one setting, law enforcement, prosecutors, social services, labour and medical professionals, to participate in a ‘Whole of Systems’ training workshop that was designed to -- among other things -- advance understanding and actions to identify, interview and provide services to victims of Trafficking in Persons with a view to compiling a manual of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to be followed in the course of their duties.

“The SOPs will help to ensure sustainability and consistency in the approach to dealing with victims, potential victims and perpetrators of trafficking in persons,” Dr. Nottage added.

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