OVER the past 11 years, 102 victims of human trafficking have been rescued in Trinidad and Tobago.
During the same period, 63 people have been charged for various offences arising from investigations into the exploitation of victims.
Migrants are the most vulnerable targets to human traffickers and the increased migration of Venezuelans into TT, many through irregular means, has worsened the problem.
Data collected since 2013 showsmigrants are the most vulnerable to human trafficking in TT, with 99 per cent of all victims being foreign and Venezuelans being the most affected.
Sexual exploitation in the form of forced prostitution and sexual servitude has been the pervading form of exploitation and young women and girls the most exploited
The majority of the people charged with this crime are TT nationals.
These were some of the findings in the 2022 on Trafficking in Persons which was laid in the House of Representatives on November 22.
MANY FACTORS AT PLAY
The report said since the proclamation of the Trafficking in Persons Act in 2013, under the UNC-led People's Partnership coalition government, 102 victims have been rescued and assisted and 63 people charged for various offences arising from the investigations.
Human trafficking, the report continued is fuelled by a demand for cheap labour, services, and commercial sex.
"Human traffickers are those who employ force, fraud, or coercion to victimise others in their desire to profit from the existing demand.
"Prosecuting human traffickers is a key pillar in the fight against trafficking in persons and delivering justice to the victims. Prosecution involves identifying the perpetrators responsible for committing the crime of trafficking in persons and bringing them to justice."
Perpetrators, the report continued, can be men and women, intimate partners, complete strangers to the victims, criminal organisations, business owners, peers, family members, diplomats, farm owners, factory operators, large or small companies or gangs.
The report added, "Thorough investigation leading to the prosecution and punishment of traffickers provides justice to victims and discourages further trafficking crimes."
In 2022, the National Security Ministry's Counter Trafficking Unit (CTU) received 103 reports of suspected cases of human trafficking, carried out seven exercises throughout the country and initiated eight further investigations.
The report said 12 people were detained for questioning and seven subsequently charged with trafficking in children, sexual assault and other, related offences.
The latter, who were charged in 2022, included one Chinese national and one Venezuelan.
The report said, "The Chinese national was previously charged in 2019 for another human trafficking matter involving minors."
These seven brought the total number of people charged for human trafficking and related offences, since the enactment of the act in 2013 to 63.
In 2022, one person was committed to stand trial at the High Court and one matter was discharged.
