Despite
it being the 21st century, despite believing ourselves to be civilised people and despite supposed lessons learned of the abhorrent past where men, women and children were forced into ships and taken to foreign lands to live the nightmare of slavery, we are still living in a world where there is the reality of human trafficking; essentially modern-day slavery.
Almost every country in the world is affected by human trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit or destination for victims, and Guyana is no exception. The International Labour Organisation (ILO), a United Nations agency responsible for addressing labour standards, employment, and social protection issues, estimates that 12.3 million people worldwide are subjected to forced labour, bonded labour, forced child labour, sexual servitude and involuntary servitude.
Just how serious a problem we are facing here is difficult to quantify without the means to attain accurate statistics, but it is clearly apparent that it is a significant one as Guyana remains on the watch list of the ILO. Our socio-economic situation regarding poverty and unstable economic structures, create situations where people are willing to be illegally trafficked because they are desperate for a better life, or more disturbingly, to offer up their children. The vulnerability that causes such actions may often be the direct result of desperation rather than greed.
The trafficking incidents that are occurring all around us range from those that are generally recognised as crimes, but shockingly, there are many incidents that are too readily accepted from a cultural perspective.
While it is understood that the majority of trafficking victims in Guyana are young girls, often from the interior or hinterlands, it is a much expansive issue involving people of both genders, all ages and from a broader demographic.
Indeed, many young girls with limited education and opportunities are lured into the system by the promise of better prospects, only to find themselves in forced servitude; either domestic or sexual. These girls could be subject to physical violence, torture, starvation, rape, other sexual or psychological abuse and blackmail. There are also men and women of all ages ensnared into the mines where they are exploited with forced labour and are powerless to escape, sometimes faced with debt bondage or physical threat. Additionally though, we are faced with a practice that seems to be acceptable on too many levels, where parents or family members allow young girls to be married off early for financial gain. These young girls are forced into a life over which they have no control and with the resources available to them almost non-existent, there is little escape.
Given that trafficking is built on the exploitation of individuals, victims are likely to suffer negatively; physically, psychologically and socially. Physical impacts due to excessive work or the use of force by traffickers, while life threatening, can include physical health risks, such as HIV/AIDS. Serious mental health difficulties include anxiety, insecurity, fear, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), cognitive impairment, depression and even suicide.
Human trafficking is a multi-faceted threat which not only denies people of their human rights and freedoms, but also poses great risk to our global health; promoting social breakdown.
In order to reduce the instances and support those who have already been victims, there is great need for the commitment of the government, better education, and a stronger economic and social security system. Fundamentally, opportunities must be made available for people to eradicate the desperation that allows them to willingly place themselves and family members in situations where they are vulnerable to trafficking.
With increased investigations and prosecutions of sex and labour trafficking cases, more convictions and longer prison sentences of traffickers would lower rates of trafficking. Providing funding for the Non-Government Organisations that are knowledgeable and closely involved in this issue would allow them to support in identifying and assisting victims. Additional efforts need to be made to ensure the safety of victims and enable them to testify in court and to offer long term support for their future. Empowering officials such as the Police, health, immigration, labour, mining, and forestry personnel with knowledge, clear procedure and support would allow those on the front line to make informed and suitable decisions and take appropriate action.
The business of human trafficking is most certainly an ugly one and it is affecting the most vulnerable of our society, the ones with little voices. It is imperative that we do not continue to turn a blind eye to what is happening within our communities and that we echo the human rights campaign that reiterates the sentiment that needs to be realised; no one should be for sale.
