The latest Trafficking in Persons Report has been released by the US State Department, and the Americans are classifying Belize as a Tier 2 watchlist country for the third consecutive year. The report says that the Belize Government does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking in this jurisdiction. They note, however, that the government, quote,"is making significant efforts to do so." End quote
The report then lists a few of the positive developments that Belize has made to step up efforts against human trafficking.
These include the selection of judges to preside over trafficking trials, providing shelter for male victims for the first time, implementing anti-trafficking training at the police academy, and opening up an investigation against a police officer. Additionally, a convicted trafficker was handed a stiff sentence.
The report also says, quote, "Because the government has devoted sufficient resources to a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute significant efforts to meet the minimum standards, Belize was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3." End quote.
And then, the report points out that the Government initiated fewer trafficking investigations, didn't convict any traffickers, and identified fewer trafficking victims. The US State Department also asserts that there are persistent reports of the complicity of officials in trafficking crimes.
On that topic, the report says, quote, "…During the reporting period, civil society organizations reported some police officers took bribes to ignore incidents of trafficking, to facilitate illegal border crossings, to not report suspected victims and perpetrators, to alert establishments where trafficking was likely to occur of pending law enforcement action, and to stonewall or sabotage investigations of reported cases within their jurisdiction. Observers decried the slow official response to reports of potential trafficking and complicity." End quote.
The assessment concluded that law enforcement authorities lacked the equipment and personnel to conduct large-scale trafficking investigations effectively.
