Fourteen Caribbean countries are
participating this week in the second annual Caribbean regional
meeting on counter-trafficking strategies organized by IOM.

During the three-day meeting starting today in
St. Maarten, delegations will highlight their country’s
activities conducted over the past year to address trafficking in
persons. Delegates will discuss mechanisms to strengthen regional
cooperation and information sharing as well as emerging trends
within the region, specifically the Single Market Economy and the
upcoming World Cricket Cup in 2007.

The regional meeting is comprised of
delegations who are leading their country’s efforts in
addressing human trafficking, including representation from
government, non-governmental organizations, and law enforcement.
Participating countries and international organizations include:
Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize,
Dominican Republic, French St. Martin, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti,
Jamaica, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago,
the United States, CARICOM, and the OAS.

“IOM has been working with governments
in the Caribbean to address human trafficking for over three years.
The commitment and leadership that the Caribbean governments have
demonstrated in taking a pro-active response to this issue has
accomplished a lot, but the efforts must continue. An effective
response requires a strong, collaborative relationship among
government, non-governmental organizations, and civil society at
the national and regional level; this meeting provides an
opportunity to develop this relationship. The presence of the
delegates here today is proof that these governments are committed
to fighting human trafficking,” said Richard E. Scott, IOM
Regional Representative for North America and the Caribbean.

The meeting is part of IOM’s Caribbean
Counter-Trafficking Initiative (CCTI). This initiative was
developed in close cooperation between IOM and the Caribbean
governments to better understand the potential impact of human
trafficking within the region.

Since 2004 IOM has partnered with governments
and non-governmental organizations in The Bahamas, Barbados,
Guyana, Jamaica, the Netherlands Antilles, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and
Nevis, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. Through these
partnerships, IOM has conducted trainings, research, and awareness
raising activities to build the capacity of Caribbean communities
to identify, assist, and protect victims of trafficking.

So far, more than 600 officials and civil
society members have participated in counter trafficking trainings
held in eight countries. A regional information campaign in seven
languages (Creole, Dutch, English, French, Papiamento, Portuguese,
Spanish) is being conducted using counter-trafficking posters and
brochures developed by IOM. IOM has awarded small grants to
national coalitions (government and non-governmental) that are
working together to combat human trafficking in their country. IOM
also published a Legal Review on Trafficking in Persons in the
Caribbean Region (June 2005) and Exploratory Assessment of
Trafficking in Persons in the Caribbean Region (June 2005),
examining trends and counter-trafficking efforts in seven
countries.

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of
Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) and the Ministry of
Justice of the Kingdom of the Netherlands have helped both to
develop and financially support this regional initiative in the
Caribbean.

For more information, please contact:

Chissey Mueller

Tel +599 545 2115

E-mail: "mailto:cmueller@iom.int" target="_blank" title=
"">cmueller@iom.int

Niurka Piñeiro

IOM Washington

Tel: +202 862 1826 x.225

E-mail: "mailto:npineiro@iom.int" target="_blank" title=
"">npineiro@iom.int