INTERIM REPORT: GUYANA IMPROVES VICTIM ASSISTANCE,

UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 001195

SIPDIS

G/TIP
WHA/CAR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM SMIG SOCI PGOV KCRM KWMN GY
SUBJECT: INTERIM REPORT: GUYANA IMPROVES VICTIM ASSISTANCE,
PROSECUTES TRAFFICKERS

REF: STATE 185386


1. Summary. A series of nation-wide educational seminars,
new legislation to raise Guyana's age of consent, new
resources for trafficking shelters, new partnerships to
research trafficking in persons (TIP),and charges filed
against human traffickers highlight Guyana's recent efforts
to combat human trafficking. These steps demonstrate the
government's continued and sustained commitment to
preventing trafficking in persons, protecting its victims,
and prosecuting its perpetrators. End Summary.

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Prevention through Education, Legislation
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2. Through a series of monthly educational seminars, the
Government of Guyana continues to demonstrate its commitment
to preventing human trafficking. More than 200 people,
including members of the Guyana Police Force, attended these
seminars held throughout the country since the release of
the 2005 Trafficking in Persons Report. The seminars
focused on educating community members about nature of human
trafficking and teaching attendees how to report human
trafficking activities to the appropriate authorities.


3. On October 27, Guyana's National Assembly raised the age
of consent to 16 from 13. During the discussion in
Parliament, Parliamentarians from both sides of the
political aisle called for strengthened legislation against
sex crimes. In raising the age of consent, the Government
demonstrated its commitment to protecting children,
including minors involved in prostitution, from sexual
predators.

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Partnership to Protect Victims
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4. The Government of Guyana (GOG) partnered with the
International Organization for Migration (IOM),the United
States Agency for International Development (USAID),and
Help and Shelter, a local Non-Government Organization to
offer protection to trafficking victims. When it formed its
anti-trafficking unit, the GOG identified Help and Shelter,
a shelter for victims of domestic violence, as the
appropriate facility to provide care for trafficking
victims. However, the shelter was struggling to pay basic
bills. To build the shelter's capacity, the GOG provided
G$5 million (US$25,000) to recondition and renovate Help and
Shelter's physical facility. In addition, USAID provided an
additional US$25 thousand to cover the shelter's operating
expenses for 18 months.


5. The GOG partnered with Red Thread, another local NGO, to
contribute to an IOM report on human trafficking in the
Caribbean. The revealing report documented some of the
causes of human trafficking in Guyana and provided valuable
testimonials from actual trafficking victims. The final
document will serve as a valuable tool to the GOG and
concerned NGOs as they continue to work together to develop
strategies to combat trafficking in persons and protect its
victims.

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Prosecution: Government Puts Human Trafficking Law to Work
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6. On October 18, prosecutors filed human trafficking
charges against a woman in Port Kaituma, a community near
the Venezuelan border. The charges allege that the woman
lured two 15 year old girls into a mining area with promises
of employment. However, upon arriving, the woman told the
girls that they would work as prostitutes. The girls
complained of fraud to local community members who reported
the matter to police. The incident may demonstrate the
success of the nation-wide educational campaign sponsored by
the government. Guyana's human trafficking coordinator,
Minister Bibi Shaddick, held an informational seminar in
Port Kaituma with members of G/TIP in 2004.


7. During the second week of October, the Guyana Police
Force arrested three people for abducting and trafficking
two teenaged girls from the Essequibo (east of Georgetown)
to Berbice, an area along Guyana's border with Suriname.
Prosecutors expect the accused to face charges in court
before the end of 2005. The arrests and subsequent charges
further demonstrate the Government's continued and sustained
commitment to combating human trafficking.

BULLEN