TIPS REPORT - FOURTH ANNUAL - BAHAMAS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NASSAU 000413

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

G/TIP, G, INL, DRL, PRM, IWI, WHA/PPC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB BF
SUBJECT: TIPS REPORT - FOURTH ANNUAL - BAHAMAS

REF: A. SECSTATE 07869

B. SECSTATE 27013

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OVERVIEW
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1. (SBU) There is no currently-available indication of
trafficking in persons in, from, or through The Bahamas.
Although migrant smuggling and drug trafficking are serious
problems for The Bahamas, no evidence is available to show
that men, women, or children are being forced by coercion or
fraud into domestic servitude, sexual exploitation or other
slavery-like labor. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the
Ministry of Labor and Immigration know of no instances in
which trafficking in persons has been an issue or even
alleged. However, these ministries were receptive to offers
of prevention training and assistance by the United States
Government. Post considers these sources to be highly
credible.


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PREVENTION
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2. (SBU) The Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Ministry of
Labor and Immigration and the Attorney General's Office would
become the responsible agencies involved if the Bahamas ever
receives an allegation of, or information about, trafficking
in persons. To date, the Bahamas has not instituted an
education campaign on this matter as there is no evidence of
a need. The Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas
(GCOB) actively promotes womens' rights and equality of
opportunity in both government and the private sector.
Currently, four of sixteen cabinet ministers are women.
Bahamian children are required to remain in school until the
age of 16, generally do so, and are therefore less vulnerable
to human traffickers.


3. (SBU) The financial resources of the Bahamas are limited,
but the Bahamian government would most likely be willing to
support a campaign to prevent or counteract human trafficking
should it become a significant issue given its long history
of support for human rights. Little interaction, if any, has
taken place between NGOs and the GCOB to date because of the
fact that a trafficking problem has not been identified.


4. (SBU) Given the geography and lay-out of the Bahamas,
border control is of utmost importance to the Bahamian
Government, which looks to the United States Coast Guard to
help the Royal Bahamas Defence Force protect its borders.
Illegal migrants, most often from Haiti and Cuba, travel
through the Bahamas on their way to the United States. Many
stop in The Bahamas and settle permanently. While the
government is extremely concerned with illegal migration,
government officials make no distinction between illegal
migration and human trafficking. Therefore, a separate
program for monitoring of this issue is not available. The
government is dedicated to stemming illegal migration and
cooperates closely with U.S. efforts to interdict both
migrants and narcotics passing through or to the Bahamas.
Currently, the Bahamian government does not have a national
plan of action to combat trafficking in persons.


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INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS
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5. (SBU) The Bahamas does not have a law specifically
prohibiting trafficking in persons. However, traffickers can
be prosecuted under Title XIX of the penal code - Crimes
Against Females, and of Kidnapping and Abduction - for
attempts to force a woman by threats, intimidation, false
pretenses or illegal drugs to do something against her will.
There are also provisions against forcibly taking or
detaining women or children. Prison terms vary from two
years to life in prison, depending on the crime committed.
The penalties for rape or forcible sexual assault range from
a minimum of seven years to a maximum of life imprisonment.
Taken together, these laws are believed sufficient to cover
trafficking in persons concerns should a case ever be brought
to trial.


6. (SBU) In June 2001, the government ratified ILO
Convention 182 Concerning the Profession and Immediate Action
for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor. The
GCOB is a party to the Rights of the Child Convention, but
not the Sale of Children Protocol. The GCOB signed the
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in
Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the UN
Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime on April 9,
2001, but has yet to ratify it.


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PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS
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7. (SBU) Due to the lack of evidence of trafficking in
persons in, or through, The Bahamas, the government does not
provide funds to NGOs to protect or assist victims.
Similarly, The Bahamas does not provide specialized training
for government officials in the provision of assistance to
trafficked victims, nor does it emphasize the issue with its
consulates and embassies abroad. Children are frequently
among the illegal immigrants interdicted and sent to the
migrant detention center pending repatriation. Although
there are some provisions made for their safety and special
needs, no educational or recreational materials are provided
for these children (many of whom are not English-speaking) on
the assumption that their stay will be of limited duration.

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NOTE
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8. (U) The principal drafter for this year's TIPS Report is
Stacie M. Zerdecki. She can be contacted at the following:
Tel: 242-322-1181 ext. 4510
Fax: 242-356-0222
Email: zerdeckism@state.gov
ZAIBACK