Child trafficking in Jamaica

“WHO CAN I trust? Who can help me?”

These are the thoughts of a victim of child trafficking.

Child trafficking is a form of human trafficking where the victim is less than 18 years old. Human trafficking, or trafficking in persons, is a form of modern-day slavery and may be a concept that is hard to grasp at first.

It is a criminal act which involves three components:

A person is acquired for the sole purpose of being used as a commodity or an object in much the same way as you would acquire or buy a car, a computer or a machine for use in your work or in your day-to-day activities.

This person is acquired and harboured by means of fraud, coercion, deception or force.

The entire aim of this ‘acquisition’ is for exploitation, i.e., to use this person to make money or to profit from their labour.

It may involve sex trafficking or labour trafficking. It is one of the newly recognised forms of child abuse.

Who is vulnerable? Children who have been abused, runaway kids, children who lack the protection of a family or a social network support.

THEY ARE LURED BY

False promises of a better life.

Love and romance. Educational opportunities. An opportunity to provide for their family. Recruiters who were victims themselves.

WHAT ARE THE WAYS IN WHICH THEY ARE TRAPPED?

Traffickers lure them by the following means:

Word of mouth. Newspaper advertisements. The Internet – the dark web.

Fake employment agencies.

Family or acquaintances.

POSSIBLE SIGNS OR INDICATORS OF CHILD TRAFFICKING

Evidence of physical, sexual, emotional abuse and trauma. Evidence of branding e.g., tattoos with name of trafficker.

Working excessively long hours. Unusually fearful, anxious

or may be emotionally numb.

No access to family or friends.

Not in school or significant gaps in schooling. Hypersexualised. Evidence of injuries in various stages of healing.

GENERAL CHALLENGES TO IDENTIFICATION

The hidden nature of the crime. Victims may be seen as criminals or not recognised as children; they are perceived as adults. Victims are afraid of their traffickers and afraid to seek help; they do not know who to trust. The general public is unaware of the nature of the crime.

HOW TO ASSIST IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING

1 . Educate yourself

and others.

2 . Learn the indicators to enable identification of trafficker and victim.

3 . Support anti-trafficking efforts – share on social media.

4 . Exercise caution in

Internet use.

5 . Report suspicious

activities.

If you suspect child trafficking, please contact 1888-PROTECT or Trafficking in Persons Unit: 967-1389 or 922-3771.

DR JUDITH LEIBA