[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO (Tier 2 Watch List)) – Extracted from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. These efforts included finalizing and implementing new SOPs for victim referral and care, opening a government-funded and government-operated shelter for female child trafficking victims, providing the first government shelters for adult trafficking victims, and increasing the size of the Counter-Trafficking Unit (CTU). The government took steps to prevent trafficking among vulnerable populations, including migrant workers, Cuban medical workers, and Venezuelan refugees and migrants; it also initiated one new program to assist victim-witnesses by allowing remote testimony in trafficking cases. However, the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, even considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity. Courts have never convicted a trafficker under the 2011 anti-trafficking law. Corruption and official complicity in trafficking crimes, including at senior levels, remained significant concerns, inhibiting law enforcement action. Victim identification, referral, and services remained weak and inconsistent, and interagency coordination was poor. Because the government has devoted sufficient resources to a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute significant efforts to meet the minimum standards, Trinidad and Tobago was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3. Therefore Trinidad and Tobago remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year.

Prioritized Recommendations

Increase efforts to investigate and prosecute traffickers, including officials and staff allegedly complicit in trafficking crimes, and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should involve significant prison terms.

Increase proactive victim identification, screening, and protection among vulnerable communities, including children in children’s homes and schools; and migrants, asylum-seekers, and refugees, especially Venezuelans.

Reduce judicial backlog.

Ensure victims are not inappropriately penalized solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of trafficking.

Fully implement and train officials and NGOs on the use of new SOPs for victim care and referral.

Improve the quality of victim care and increase bilingual services.

Provide adequate funding and staff for robust trafficking investigations and victim services, including accommodations, and improve CTU responsiveness after hours.

Improve cooperation between the CTU, prosecutors, the judiciary, other agencies, and NGOs to increase the number of cases that proceed to trial.

Strengthen rules and regulations to ensure immigration enforcement does not hinder human trafficking detection, criminal law enforcement, or victim protections.

Strengthen oversight, regulation, and inspections of private labor recruitment agencies and domestic work locations, including by appointing a license officer.

Ensure NGOs are not penalized for violations of the Immigration Act for assisting foreign victims.

Investigate and prosecute domestic child trafficking as human trafficking and not as abuse or other crimes.

Train law enforcement and prosecutors in evidence collection for trafficking cases.