U.S. State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report notes Government has demonstrated efforts to combat human trafficking

By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: On July 24, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken released the State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report for 2024, assessing the efforts of 188 countries, including the United States and Belize, on their efforts to combat human trafficking. 

The report’s Belize narrative states that, while the Government of Belize “does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking,” it is “making significant efforts to do so.”

The narrative added that the Government of Belize “demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with” the previous year to combat human trafficking. Therefore, “Belize remained on Tier 2.”

The Government of Belize’sachievements include identifying more victims, increasing investigations, cooperating with foreign law enforcement in cases that resulted in arrests and convictions, and consulting with survivors on anti-trafficking laws and policies.

The Ministry of Human Development and its private-sector partners continue to do commendable work in protecting victims and boosting prevention through awareness.

In addition, the TIP Report includes a number of specific recommendations for Belize to improve its efforts to eliminate human trafficking, including: vigorously investigating and prosecuting suspected traffickers, including complicit officials, and imposing strong prison sentences on convicted traffickers; creating a national labor recruiter registry; conducting prevention programs with migrant workers; increasing capacity for implementation of, and effectiveness of, the amnesty program to reduce the vulnerability of migrants to trafficking; and consistently applying procedures to screen for and identify victims among vulnerable groups, including children at risk of familial trafficking, school children – especially those ages 14 to 16 years – Chinese, Indian, Cuban and migrant workers, individuals in immigration courts, refugees, and asylum-seekers.

“The United States recognizes the efforts the Government of Belize and commits to continuing our partnership on this issue,” a statement from the U.S. Embassy said.

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