by ALBERT BRANDFORD POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT AT LEAST two people now living in Barbados may have been victims of suspected human trafficking - a rapidly expanding global phenomenon that is impacting on countries and communities worldwide. The revelation was made by one of the organisers of a two-day conference held here earlier this month by the Coalition to Raise Awareness on Trafficking in Persons in Barbados, in collaboration with the Bureau of Gender Affairs and the Geneva-based International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Understandably, given the level of fear and violence associated with the organised criminal elements involved in human trafficking, the officials were reluctant to say more. They were especially careful not to even hint at the victims' nationality, or current whereabouts, and though aware that a "face" or "presence" could heighten public awareness through the media, they certainly were not about to make victims available for Press intervews despite assurances that their identities would be protected. Constraining environment That is the kind of background and constraining environment in which local bodies operate alongside organisations such as the IOM which has been helping to develop counter-trafficking programmes to provide a comprehensive, integrated response to prevent the phenomenon, protect victims through targeted assistance and empower governments and other agencies to combat the problem more effectively. Government says while it has no information human trafficking is a "major problem" here, it recognised the adverse implications the practice could have on the victims and the society, and was committed to reduce the development of this scourge. "Information to date does not suggest that Barbados has a major problem in the trafficking of persons," said John Hollingsworth, director of the Bureau of Gender Affairs, "but we are aware that given our economic strength in relation to other Caribbean islands we are seen as a prime target to be exploited for this practice. "There have been incidences reported in the local Press where the circumstances outlined by persons charged before the court for other crimes, indicate to us that they could have been the victims of trafficking in persons. "CARICOM nationals brought into the island under false pretences and having their passport withheld while their sponsors demand reimbursement for the travel cost and requiring fees for the application of work permits are some of the instances that have been brought to our attention. "It is only when these persons are accused of criminal conduct that these situations are revealed." Barbados does not yet have explicit legislation outlawing human trafficking, but it is a signatory to (although it has not yet ratified) the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children of 2000. This Trafficking Protocol came into force December 25, 2003 and, among other things, provides for the criminalising of trafficking; assistance and protection to victims in countries of origin, transit and destination; assistance in repatriation; managing migration to prevent and detect human trafficking; and training, research and information to prevent and counter-trafficking. In 2000, the international community developed a definition of trafficking persons as a supplemental protocol to the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime: "Trafficking in persons" shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs; ... . Much time was spent detailing what is trafficking in persons - as distinct from smuggling - using several case studies; small groups and full group discussion; as well as an exploration of capacity building. Trafficking in persons and the smuggling of immigrants are often confused as being the same thing. Trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling are both profitable businesses involving the movement of individuals and are associated with criminal networks. However, the two crimes are different. Smuggling of migrants is defined as "the facilitated, illegal entry into a country". Trafficking in persons, however, requires the movement of migrants (often through an illegal border crossing, but not always) in order to force an individual into an exploitative situation. It is the exploitation of the individual once across a border or into a country that differentiates a smuggler from a trafficker. To distinguish between the two crimes, it would help to look at them from the perspective of the criminal. A migrant smuggler intends to facilitate the illegal border crossing in order to be paid for providing that service. In other words, a smuggler wants to be paid for getting someone into Barbados from another country. A trafficker intends, through deception or force, to place an individual into an exploitative situation where the trafficker receives financial gain through the exploitation of that individual. In other words, the trafficker benefits, not just from getting the person into the country illegally, or sometimes legally, but from exploiting their labour or services. Maybe as a result of the conference Government will reassess its priorities and follow through on ratifying the protocol as well as legislating against trafficking. One clear conclusion from the discussions was that the conference was proof of the need for greater awareness among Barbadians. An IOM exploratory assessment published last June, for example, noted that the concept of trafficking in persons taking place in Barbados was a "relatively new one" and therefore has not been the focus of attention. "The indications about whether elements of trafficking exist in Barbados are mixed," the report said. "Only eight key informants indicated familiarity with forced prostitution and forced labour occurring in Barbados and six had heard about domestic servitude." It suggested there was definite exploitation of migrant labour, especially in the construction and garment industries, but also of commercial sex workers involved in prostitution, exotic dancing, massages and other related activities.
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