When it comes to the legal framework surrounding human trafficking, The Bahamas has been able to soar above standards set by international bodies.

During her mission to The Bahamas, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, said she was pleased to find that the Bahamian government has taken human trafficking as a serious enough issue to put the necessary legislation in place.

Ms. Ezeilo was wrapping up her three-day stay during which she visited several sites, including the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.

She said that the legislation in The Bahamas, particularly in women and children goes above and beyond.

“With regards to legal and policy matters, I would say The Bahamas has met international standards,” she said.

“Your law is comprehensive and has even gone further in certain aspects. So I am satisfied with your law. However, I would like to see it in action. I want to see the law implemented and work for victims of human trafficking.”

The UN representative said that during her mission, she noticed that the most prevalent type of human trafficking in The Bahamas is trafficking for sexual exploitation.

There are currently two cases of human trafficking before the courts, both of which involve Jamaicans.
Ms. Ezeilo said in the country, there’s a high demand for cheap labour, which leads to more human trafficking.

She added that when these people are trafficked and caught, they are sometimes confused with refugees and deported.
Ms. Ezeilo thinks what The Bahamas government should focus on is prevention.

“Prevention is very crucial and is something the government can adopt multimedia help to tackle,” she said.

“The government will have to use local medium, through education, entertainment and other languages. They will have to use posters, leaflets, brochures and information pamphlets, whatever can be used to spread the word.”
She returns to Geneva, Switzerland today.