KINGSTON, Jamaica – The sustainability of strategies implemented under the United States (US)-Jamaica Child Protection Compact (CPC) Project is deemed critical to combatting human trafficking locally.

This, according to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security and Chairman of the National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons, Courtney Williams.

He was speaking during the recent closing-out ceremony for Winrock International’s Trafficking in Persons [US-Jamaica CPC] Project at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston.

The four-year CPC project was jointly undertaken by the governments of Jamaica and the United States and is the first such partnership forged in the Caribbean.

It aims to build on Jamaica’s existing efforts to prosecute and punish perpetrators of child trafficking, identify victims and strengthen the provision of comprehensive protective services and prevent the heinous crime from occurring.

Williams noted that the partnership was indicative of Winrock’s commitment and shared goal to improve Jamaica’s efforts to combat all forms of trafficking.

“Winrock International has solidly supported the Ministry’s shared desire to strengthen Jamaica’s fight against trafficking in persons, and for that we are very much grateful,” he said.

Williams said that within the context of strengthening the policy framework and institutional mechanism, “we are advanced in the process of finalising a draft of the National Policy to Combat Trafficking in Persons”.

He said the government wants to ensure that there is some permanency to the establishment of the TIP Secretariat, which will help to sustain the efforts and build on the success had, so far, with support from Winrock.

The Permanent Secretary added that to build the Secretariat’s capacity, Jamaica will have to strengthen the supporting structure to efficiently and effectively carry out its comprehensive roles and responsibilities.

“Efforts must be made to ensure that we can improve the efficiency and reduce duplication through better data management and data-sharing,” he said.

Political and Regional Team Lead at the US Embassy in Jamaica, Scott Winton, who represented the Ambassador, His Excellency Nick Perry, said work under the CPC has not ended, despite the project’s conclusion.

“We all know that perpetrators of trafficking are relentless. So we must remain even more resolute in protecting [the] society’s most vulnerable victims,” he maintained.

Winrock International and its implementing partners work to strengthen government and civil society’s capacity to identify and provide comprehensive services to child-trafficking victims.

These include identifying victims and providing protective care, community reintegration, and long-term follow-up services and increased efforts to prevent child trafficking, by developing and strengthening community-based mechanisms to raise awareness.