OAS Representative warns Caribbean to be wary of human trafficking
By Melissa Bryant
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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Starett Greene
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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Organisation of American States (OAS) Representative for St. Kitts and Nevis, Starett Greene, has called on Caribbean governments to join forces to ensure that the region takes a firm stand against the trafficking of women.
Greene made these remarks last week at the Ministry of Gender Affairs’ ‘Sixteen Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence’ activity held at Manhattan Gardens in Camps.
The event was organised in the wake of the 16th Anniversary of the United Nation’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Greene revealed that mounting evidence suggests the trafficking of women for sexual exploitation is a significant problem in the region.
“The volume of Latin American and Caribbean women in prostitution in Europe, Japan and the USA implies the existence of sex trafficking.
“An estimated 50 000 women from the Dominican Republic and 75 000 women from Brazil work abroad in the sex industry, mainly in Europe. It is also estimated by Interpol that 35 000 women are trafficked out of Colombia each year,” Greene enlightened.
He noted that a number of initiatives are being undertaken, mainly by human rights organisations and civil society groups, to increase awareness of the trafficking in women and their exposure to violence and crime. He also mentioned the ongoing non-political and unbiased research conducted by non-governmental organisations to investigate trafficking in a number of countries in the region from a social, legal, economic and political perspective. ~~Adz:Right~~
“Efforts are being undertaken to address the inadequacy of existing legislation and law enforcement practices that will better acknowledge the seriousness of human trafficking.
“It is hoped that the results of these studies will be used to develop a draft for an Inter-American Convention that will permit regional cooperation to prevent and eradicate the trafficking of persons in general and of women and children in particular,” Greene said.
He reinforced the OAS’ commitment to working with member countries to eradicate this practice.
“It constitutes grave violations of the civil and human rights of women. We know that women trafficked for sexual exploitation are denied at some point the right to liberty, the right not to be held in slavery or involuntary servitude, the right to be free from cruel and in humane treatment, the right to be free from violence, and the right to good health.
“We must continue to sound the alarm of outrage against this evil and remain unflinching in our collective efforts to put in jail those evil men who are engaged in this worldwide plague,” he stressed.
