To Better Know a Country: Human Trafficking in Jamaica

by Amanda Kloer · 2009-11-18 07:00:00 UTC
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Every year, the U.S. State Department releases a Trafficking in Persons report which rates countries on their efforts to combat human trafficking.  Each week, I'll be providing a brief glance at human trafficking in one of those countries, based off the 2009 Trafficking in Persons Report, with my own (often snarky) analysis added.  This is just a snapshot of what's going on in the country.  For more information, you can check out the full text of the 2009 Trafficking in Persons Report here.

This Week's Country..... Jamaica

Basic Stats

  • Ranking: Tier 2

  • Status: Source, transit, and destination country for trafficking victims

  • Political Stability: Ey mon, it's all irie!

  • Cash Flow: Ey mon, you want some ganga?

  • Do I Think They Care?: Ey, what is dat trafficking ting you keep talkin' about?

Who Are the Victims and What Are They Doing?

  • Women: commercial sex, forced labor

  • Girls: commercial sex, domestic servitude, child sex tourism

  • Boys: commercial sex, domestic servitude, child sex tourism

Where Are They Coming From and Where Are They Going?

  • Victims are trafficked from Jamaica to Canada, United States, Bahamas, and other Caribbean countries.

  • Victims are trafficked from Russia, Dominican Republic, and Eastern Europe to Jamaica.

  • Jamaicans are trafficked internally.

What's Gotta Happen

  • Investigate, convict, and sentence traffickers.

  • Train law enforcement agencies to identify human trafficking.

  • Fund shelters and services for trafficked children.

In summary, the stereotype of Jamaica's laid-back attitude is no joke. They are relaxed about just about everything, including fighting human trafficking. Trafficking in the sex industry thrives in Jamaica, and it is one of the few places in the world where boys and young men are victims almost as often as girls are. Jamaica's tourism industry seriously needs to step up their game and not look the other way when tourists ask for local children. Because child sex tourism is a lot more serious than a little too much sun and a little too much ganja.

Photo credit: 04devini

Amanda Kloer is a Change.org Editor and has been a full-time abolitionist in several capacities for seven years. Follow her on Twitter @endhumantraffic
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