[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

JAMAICA (Tier 2) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report

The Government of Jamaica does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so.  The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Jamaica remained on Tier 2.  These efforts included investigating, prosecuting, and convicting more traffickers; implementing a screening tool and national referral mechanism (NRM) for child victims; expanding training for criminal justice officials and victim service providers; and opening three child-friendly spaces for interviewing and providing immediate assistance to child victims.  However, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas.  Authorities did not identify any adult victims.  Despite continued reports that gangs compelled some children to commit unlawful acts, authorities detained and arrested children for gang-related criminal activity without screening for indicators of trafficking.  The Office of the Children’s Advocate (OCA) reported systemic failures and individual misconduct within Jamaica’s child protection system that left children and young adults in state care at risk of re-victimization.

Prioritized Recommendations

Fully implement the screening tools and NRM to increase proactive identification and referral of potential trafficking victims among vulnerable groups – to include Cuban overseas workers and children apprehended for gang-related activity – and provide consistent training for officials on implementing these tools.

Increase efforts to provide more victims, whether identified in Jamaica or repatriated from abroad, with comprehensive services, including reintegration support and for the full length of any legal proceedings.

Increase efforts to investigate and prosecute traffickers, including officials who are complicit in human trafficking and foreign tourists or Jamaicans who exploit child sex trafficking victims, and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should involve significant prison terms.

Increase funding and human resources to ministries, departments, and agencies responsible for trafficking victim protection services, and strengthen capacity-building and risk assessment procedures within the child protection system.

Allow adult victims greater independence to make informed choices about their own security needs and do not impose restriction of movement on adult victims while in the government’s care.

Amend the anti-trafficking law to prescribe penalties for sex trafficking that are commensurate with penalties for other serious crimes by increasing the available maximum imprisonment term.

Implement legal or policy changes to enhance law enforcement officials’ ability to classify children subjected to forced criminality as trafficking victims.

Increase resources to the Office of the National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons (ONRTIP) to provide independent monitoring and oversight of the government’s anti-trafficking response.

Strengthen systems to collect, share, and analyze integrated case data on suspected and confirmed trafficking cases among relevant stakeholders.

Increase collaboration, including funding, with civil society organizations to support protection and prevention efforts at the community level