The US Secretary of State has released its Trafficking in Persons Report and the news is that it has upgraded Belize's status to Tier 2. Previously it had been on the Tier 2 Watch List. The report notes that "The Government of Belize does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period….These achievements included convicting two traffickers and applying adequate sentences…opening a shelter for unaccompanied children at risk for trafficking; and prioritizing anti-trafficking funding.
A release from the government says it is pleased with the upgrade and recognizes that there is more to be done to combat Human Trafficking in Belize.
The report surely comes as a relief in Belmopan where there had been some concerns after police intercepted a bus from the Maya King Farms in March which suggested child labour and human traffic. Authorities responded with a number of corrective initiatives after that.
