JAMAICA COULD be upgraded to Tier Two in its Trafficking in Persons ranking next year as a result of its efforts to address the issue.
This, according to Ambassador John Miller, senior adviser on trafficking in persons to United States Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice.
Last year, Jamaica was downgraded from the Tier Two Watch List to Tier Three, the lowest rank on the three-tier system, in the Trafficking in Persons Report. However, the country was upgraded to the Tier Two Watch List in October last year and narrowly escaped economic sanctions, which apply to Tier Three countries.
"I do think that Jamaica has moved in the right direction. I think it is closer to Tier Two than it is to Tier Three," Ambassador Miller said yesterday.
In the 2006 report, released this week, Jamaica has remained on the Tier Two Watch List.
This means that, while the Jamaican Government has made some efforts to combat human trafficking, it has not fully complied with the minimum
U.S. standards for eliminating trafficking.
SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS
Addressing journalists via video conferencing yesterday
at the U.S. Embassy, New Kingston, Ambassador Miller said Jamaica has made
significant efforts in combating trafficking, by setting up an
anti-trafficking unit, among other interventions.
"I see signs of hope. I don't see that for some Tier Two Watch List countries," he said.
However, the senior adviser said Jamaica's ranking could only move up if the current antihuman trafficking in persons efforts continue. He said these include the advancement of Government's Trafficking in Persons Unit and the training of police personnel to investigate and prosecute human trafficking offenders.
Special human trafficking unit
The United States said that it will be providing funding to train police personnel in the special unit set up to address human trafficking.
Ambassador John Miller admitted that human trafficking was a big problem in the U.S. and noted that more needs to be done to fight the problem. He said part of the challenge is getting victims to come forward, noting that the U.S. has to figure out a way to get more victims to step forward.
