Church leader calls for intensified fight against human trafficking
Published:Monday | February 17, 2025 | 9:23 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Overseer Cassel Dunkley, head of the St Catherine-based Church of God in Christ Jesus Apostolic of Jamaica, is urging Jamaicans to unite behind the country’s latest anti-human trafficking initiative. This initiative aims to protect vulnerable individuals from the horrors associated with human trafficking.
Highlighting the severity of the issue, Dunkley noted that human trafficking is emerging as a significant scourge in Jamaica, generating over US$236 billion in illegal profits worldwide annually.
Referencing the disappearance of a woman from St Catherine years ago, he called on communities to be vigilant and proactive in safeguarding those at risk.
“The fight against human trafficking is crucial, especially given our socio-economic challenges. I pastor in an economically challenged area, so it’s possible that individuals are being smuggled without even realising the danger they are in,” said Dunkley, whose church is based in the tough Lakes Pen community near Spanish Town.
“I remember, years ago, a young woman disappeared without a trace. She received a call one night, left, and was never seen again,” Dunkley recalled, emphasising the importance of recognising the signs of human trafficking.
“People with resources often prey on those seeking opportunities, unaware of the hidden dangers they may face. Many individuals, desperate to escape poverty and support their families, end up caught in trafficking networks, sometimes vanishing without a trace,” he added.
Earlier this year, the Office of the National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons launched a free online course to raise public awareness and educate Jamaicans about human trafficking and ways to combat it locally.
Dunkley is urging all Jamaicans to participate in the course to better understand the risks and protect themselves and others from traffickers.
“This course will educate the public, increase awareness, and allow children to learn at their own pace. Parents can also sit with their children to go through the course together,” he said.
“I am appealing to every Jamaican, both locally and in the diaspora, to log on and educate themselves about human trafficking, including the difference between trafficking and smuggling.”
SIMPLE AND SAFE STEPS
Diahann Gordon-Harrison, Jamaica’s first national rapporteur on trafficking in persons, emphasised that the new online course focuses on the preventative side of the crime.
“This course is an open, free-access short course. In just about 40 minutes, participants can receive certification and gain essential knowledge to support the fight against human trafficking,” she explained.
The course has recently been launched in western Jamaica.
Gordon-Harrison further highlighted that one of the most effective ways to combat human trafficking is through public awareness, education, and continued sensitisation, which helps individuals quickly identify suspicious activities.
“We are not asking anyone to put themselves in danger, but there are simple and safe steps people can take to help prevent trafficking. This course presents relatable Jamaican experiences to enhance understanding and vigilance,” she stated.
Human trafficking involves the exploitation of individuals through forced labour, fraud, coercion, and the commercial sex trade. There is no single profile for traffickers, and, in some cases, they may even be family members of their victims.
Jamaicans are encouraged to remain alert, educate themselves, and take part in the national effort to combat this growing crime.