Plans are underway by the Authorities to ascertain Jamaica’s first shelter devoted to supporting boys who’re victims of human trafficking.
This initiative is being spearheaded by way of a partnership between the Ministry of Nationwide Safety and the Ministry of Tradition, Gender, Leisure and Sport, by way of its Bureau of Gender Affairs (BGA).
Gender Minister, Hon. Olivia Grange, made the disclosure throughout the Ministry’s latest Excellent Father Awards Ceremony at The Jamaica Pegasus resort in New Kingston.
Towards the backdrop of shelter providers primarily catering to feminine victims, Minister Grange acknowledged rising public concern over the absence of comparable services for males.
“What we’ve discovered is that the victims of human trafficking are primarily boys. So, the following step within the work of the Bureau [is] working carefully with the Ministry of Nationwide Safety to ascertain [a] shelter for boys who’re victims,” the Minister indicated.
The shelter will function a secure haven, offering specialised assist and rehabilitation providers to assist younger male survivors of trafficking to heal, recuperate, and reintegrate into society.
“We’re guaranteeing that we put in place a facility that may assist our boys who’re victims,” Ms. Grange mentioned.
Human trafficking stays a major problem throughout Jamaica and the broader Caribbean area. The island has been recognized as each a supply and vacation spot nation for trafficking victims, together with youngsters subjected to compelled labour, sexual exploitation, and different types of abuse.
In response to studies by the United Nations and regional organisations, girls and boys alike fall sufferer to trafficking, however boys are sometimes underrepresented in sufferer assist providers, which traditionally have targeted on feminine survivors. This disparity has raised considerations amongst advocates who argue that male victims face distinctive vulnerabilities and require specialised care.
The Caribbean area as an entire grapples with trafficking challenges as a consequence of its geographic place as a transit level and the financial hardships confronted by many communities, which traffickers exploit. Governments within the area have been working to strengthen laws, enhance sufferer identification, and increase providers to all survivors, however gaps stay.
In Jamaica, current shelters and assist programmes largely cater to girls and ladies. The proposed new shelter for boys victims of trafficking represents a essential step towards addressing this hole, guaranteeing that each one survivors have entry to secure areas for restoration and reintegration.
