JAMAICA has received a tier two ranking in its efforts to combat human trafficking, an improvement over the country’s previous ranking – tier two watch list.

“Jamaica’s improved rating is attributable to several key factors, including the enactment of comprehensive legislation and the increase in the number of cases brought before the courts,” the National Anti-Trafficking in Persons (NATIP) task force said in a release yesterday.

“The US Government also acknowledged the turn-around attitude towards human trafficking activities by government officials and their willingness to address this matter in public fora, said the release.

“The increase in the number of and targeted approach to anti-human trafficking public education and training programmes were also considered by the US State Department and made an impact in the final ranking for 2007,” it added.

This improved ranking means that Jamaica will no longer be required to submit interim reports to the US State Department, while the country will now have more open access to the various developmental programmes offered by the United States.

The anti-trafficking in persons task force said, too, that Jamaica’s improved ranking was also achieved through the support and cooperation of its international partners as well as the media which it said covered the issue responsibly.

Additionally, the task force said the Jamaican Government considered the improved tier two status a welcome recognition by the international community in general and the United States Government in particular, of the intense efforts being undertaken by the government to tackle the growing problem affecting the entire international community and specifically the Caribbean.

“We will maintain this commitment through the National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons to ensure the safety and security of Jamaicans as well as visitors who may be at risk from the activities of traffickers,” said the task force.

“The task force will retain its mandate to implement all the measures necessary, within the limits of its resources to bring about further improvement in the combat against human trafficking within the borders of Jamaica,” said yesterday’s press release.

In 2005, the State Department placed Jamaica on tier three of its human trafficking watch list, which is the lowest ranking. However, last year Jamaica was placed on the tier two watch list. Since then, the Jamaican government has made several efforts to address the problem, such as the passing of the Trafficking in Persons Act in Parliament last December.