Human Trafficking in [Barbados Street Children in [Barbados] [other countries]Child Prostitution in [Barbados] [other countries] |
Human Trafficking & Modern-day Slavery In the
first ten years of the 21st
Century - 2000 to 2009
Barbados is a destination country for women from the Dominican
Republic, Guyana, and Jamaica trafficked for the purpose of sexual
exploitation; it is also a destination for men from China, India, and Guyana
trafficked for the purpose of labor exploitation in construction and other
sectors. Reports from 2005 indicated that girls and women within Barbados and
from other Caribbean countries were trafficked for the purpose of domestic
servitude. - U.S. State Dept Trafficking in
Persons Report, June, 2009 [full country report] |
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CAUTION: The following links have been
culled from the web to illuminate the situation in Barbados. Some of these links may lead to websites
that present allegations that are unsubstantiated or even false. No
attempt has been made to validate their authenticity or to verify their content. ***
FEATURED ARTICLE *** Human trafficking in Barbados and six other Caribbean countries Human trafficking is a reality in Barbados and some of its Caribbean neighbors, and it’s being reported that some of those people brought illegally into the country are being forced into labor. These findings were made during an exploratory study that examined Barbados, the Bahamas, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, the Netherlands Antilles and Suriname. ***
ARCHIVES *** Bur of Democracy,
Human Rights & Labor - Country Reports
on Human Rights Practices - 2006 TRAFFICKING
IN PERSONS – The
constitution and laws do not specifically prohibit trafficking in persons.
Although laws against slavery, forced labor or other crimes could be applied,
no trafficking cases were prosecuted. There were reports that persons were
trafficked to the country. A 2005 assessment by the
International Organization for Migration (IOM) stated that persons were
trafficked both to work as prostitutes and as domestic workers. Persons also
reportedly were trafficked to work in the construction and garment
industries, where they were subject to low wages and false contracts. The IOM
noted that in cases where trafficking may have occurred, the government
typically deported the persons suspected of being trafficked and failed to
investigate or prosecute the alleged traffickers. The government has no
dedicated facilities to assist victims and does not provide funding to antitrafficking NGOs. No big role in human trafficking www.nationnews.com/story/291942294552898.php At one time this article had been
archived and may possibly still be accessible [here] NOT UNTOUCHED - But the island didn't entirely
escape unscathed. It was among the Caribbean countries the report mentioned
as accepting Guyanese as victims of human trafficking. "Reporting from other
(Caribbean) nations suggest Guyanese women and girls are trafficked for
sexual exploitation to neighbouring countries such
as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, Suriname, Venezuela, and that
Guyanese men and boys are subject to labour
exploitation in construction and agriculture in these same countries. UN reviews Barbados' Human Rights report www.barbadosadvocate.com/NewViewNewsleft.cfm?Record=30579 With respect to human trafficking,
the UNHRC wanted to see more policy and legislative responses to the problem
to ensure that victims have access to the provision of support and
assistance. In addition, the State party should criminalise
the trafficking of human beings in consultations with CARICOM, the organisation said. The Protection Project - Barbados [DOC] FACTORS
THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE TRAFFICKING INFRASTRUCTURE – An
increase in tourism to the island nation has reportedly resulted in an increase
in sex tourism. Furthermore, the seaport in the capital, Bridgetown, provides
a steady demand for commercial sex. Regional 'hub' for trafficking www.nationnews.com/story/322339253697505.php The trafficking of Guyanese
women and girls to Barbados remains a fact of life. And while the depth of Barbados'
involvement in the sordid business of human trafficking for sex remains
unknown, what's clear is that Guyana "is principally a source country
for men, women, and children" trafficked both within and outside of the
Caribbean country. But Barbados isn't alone in
receiving Guyanese women and teenage girls for the sex trade, according to
the State Department. However, Barbados wasn't singled
out in the document for any special mention as a place that was central to
human trafficking in the Caribbean and Latin America. TACKLE ISSUE: - Earlier this year, the island
had to answer questions about trafficking when a United Nations human rights
panel examined the island's latest human rights report. Barbados'
representative told the experts that authorities back home were trying to do
something about it. Human Rights
Committee Examines Issues Concerning Human Trafficking ... Owing to its
geographical location, the Caribbean was particularly susceptible to
migratory movements from one part of the hemisphere to another, he
said. Thus, it was very susceptible to trafficking in persons, arms,
illegal drugs and so forth. Because of the nature of the archipelago –
the scattering of small islands – the borders were porous, and that required
a tremendous amount of resources to police and monitor. The airport and
seaport were the two ports of entry, and most recently, a private port had
opened for private yachts, but the islands could be accessed all around by
anyone interested in moving in with fast boats, especially from Saint Vincent
only 100 miles away. So, on the
trafficking question, Barbados’ authorities had met with the Caribbean
Community (CARICOM) members and had evolved several initiatives, apart from
information campaigns. Among those had been the establishment of victim
protection programmes for the various jurisdictions involving all the islands.
Steps had also been taken to firm up a task force to deal with scouting and
exploration of the waters of the Caribbean Sea. The matters had first
been brought to the attention of the region at a meeting in Guyana in April
2005, when the idea of mapping out a regional plan had come into being.
The region also had cooperation with the International Organization of
Migration. He said, “It
troubles us. What more can I say? We are working actively on
it. It is not yet a big problem… but it probably is happening.”
He added, “We are trying to nip it in the bud by approaching it at a local
and regional level.” Human
trafficking in Barbados and six other Caribbean countries Human trafficking is a reality in BPW Barbados collaboration to prevent human trafficking www.bpw-international.org/members/bpw-members-five-regions-north-america.htm#3 At one time this article had been
archived and may possibly still be accessible [here] BPW Barbados partners with the Bureau
of Gender Affairs in a project sponsored by the International Organization of
Migration (IOM) since year 2005. IOM wanted to alert the Barbadian Public as
to the nature and characteristics of Human Trafficking. It wanted to put
Barbados on guard, to prevent the island from being used as a point of
distribution for human trafficking. A coalition was formed, made up of
representatives of the agencies/organizations. Planning meetings were held.
Three public campaigns were held in Speightswn, Oistins and Bridgetown. In 2006, two officers of IOM came
to the island and conducted a workshop on Human Trafficking, its implications
and ramifications. The outcome of the workshop was that participants arranged
to set up mechanisms to do empirical research and to set up a watch- dog
operation to scrutinize events or actions that resembled human trafficking
and report to IOM. Freedom
House Country Report - Political Rights: 1 Civil Liberties: 1 Status: Free All material used herein
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Human Trafficking in [Barbados Street Children in [Barbados] [other countries]Child Prostitution in [Barbados] [other countries]