Guyana will be observing World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30

Georgetown, GUYANA – Guyana will be observing World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30 with emphasis being placed on migrant workers who are lured here under the guise of well-paid job opportunities only to be manipulated and abused financially, physically or sexually.

The Counter-Trafficking in Persons Unit (C-TIP), Ministry of Social Protection is spearheading a week of activities leading up to the day, which is being observed under the theme “Embracing Diversity, Reducing Vulnerabilities, Promoting Safe Migration.”

To kick- start the weeklong events, blue balloons will be released on the Sea Wall on Monday, July 27 by TIP survivors and Ministry’s officials. The balloons represent the grief of those who were trafficked, while acting as a reminder of the cold-heartedness of individuals who exploit their fellow human beings for their own personal gains.

Furthermore, to get the public involved the C-TIP Unit will initiate “TIP In The Streets” – a vox  populi – which will allow members of the public on Tuesday, July 28 to express their views on TIP  related issues in Guyana. The exercise will also facilitate the C-TIP team to distribute pertinent information and encourage persons to make reports of any suspected TIP activity.

Members of the public will be able to “Join the Conversation with the TIP Team” during a live Facebook panel discussion titled “COVID and its Impact on Trafficking in Persons and the Migrant Population in Guyana.” Representatives from the C-TIP Unit, International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Ministerial Task Force on TIP and Department of Citizenship will be the panelists when the discussion commences at 10:00 on Wednesday, July 29 on the Ministry’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/mospgy

The conversation continues with a ZOOM C-TIP Virtual Discussion on July 30, where the opportunities of expanding psychosocial support and shelter for VoTs in outlying regions will be discussed. Members of the public can tune in to the 45-minute programme on the Ministry’s Facebook page on Thursday, July 30 from 15:00 h. Members of the panel will include members from the C-TIP Unit, TIP National Task Force and IMO.

The week-long celebration culminates on Friday, July 31 with hampers distribution to TIP survivors.