Human Trafficking in [Barbados] [other countries]Street Children in [Barbados] [other countries]Child Prostitution in [Barbados] [other countries] |
Human Trafficking & Modern-day Slavery Barbados [ Country-by-Country
Reports ] Barbados [map], is an island state of 166 sq mi (430 sq km), located in the West Indies. Its capital and largest city is Bridgetown. Historically, the Barbadian economy had been dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but production in recent years has diversified into light industry and tourism. Offshore finance and information services are important foreign exchange earners. The government continues its efforts to reduce unemployment, to encourage direct foreign investment, and to privatize remaining state-owned enterprises. The economy contracted in 2002-03 mainly due to a decline in tourism. Growth was positive in 2005-06, as economic conditions in the US and Europe moderately improved. Scope and Magnitude. Anecdotal
information suggests that Barbados may be a destination and transit country
for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual
exploitation and forced labor. Some internal trafficking of children into
prostitution may be facilitated by victims’ families. Reports indicate that
women and girls from Guyana, the Dominican Republic, and other Caribbean
islands may be trafficked to Barbados for sexual exploitation in strip clubs
and brothels, as well as for domestic servitude. Some migrants, mostly men
from China, India, and Guyana, may be subjected to conditions of
forced labor in construction and other sectors. Barbados also may be a
sex tourism destination. - U.S. State Dept Trafficking in Persons Report, June,
2008 [full country report] |
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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. UN reviews Barbados' Human Rights report http://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 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 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 Human Rights Overview by Human
Rights Watch – Defending Human Rights Worldwide 1. The linked
article has been taken down, moved or restricted. All material used herein
reproduced under the fair use exception of 17 USC §
107 for noncommercial, nonprofit, and educational use |
Human Trafficking in [Barbados] [other countries]Street Children in [Barbados] [other countries]Child Prostitution in [Barbados] [other countries]