Training of National Security Officials to Prevent Human Trafficking in St. Kitts and Nevis

Basseterre, July 26, 2019 (SKNIS): Experts in the field of human trafficking were recently in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis working with National Security representatives in the fight against the international problem of human trafficking, with the aim of creating a national task force in the twin island Federation.

The United Nations defines human trafficking as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of persons by improper means (such as force, abduction, fraud, or coercion) for an improper purpose including forced labor or sexual exploitation.

International Council at the Council of Europe and Traffic Official, Lori Mann, said that St. Kitts and Nevis, like other countries, is susceptible to human trafficking but noted that there are measures that can be put in place to address this problem.

Ms. Mann made those remarks during the handing over ceremony of the human trafficking technical assistance handbook on July 25 as part of their four month human trafficking training.

The Federation has already put the necessary infrastructure in place such as the creation of a National Task Force under the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act, 2008, to help with the prevention and the fight against human trafficking within the Federation.

It states in the preamble of the Act that it is “An Act to prescribe measures to prevent and combat trafficking in persons with particular regard to victims who are women and children and for related matters.”

The training by Ms. Mann for the past four months would lead to the operationalization of this task force as it is also a recommendation of hers.