Grenada Parliamentarians are expected to approve an anti-human trafficking legislation that will give effect to the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, 2000.
The Bill is set to be presented at this Friday’s sitting of the House of Representatives, by Social Development Minister Delma Thomas. Thomas is among worldwide government officials who have expressed disgust over the recent Boko Haram Nigerian kidnappings.
“Grenada expresses its collective disgust about the situation. We are of the view that, in a modern world community, such barbaric actions must not be allowed to stand,” Minister Thomas told the Government Information Service (GIS). “We are pleased, however, that the world has finally begun to take notice and the community, through the United Nations, has now shown a willingness to act.”
The stated aim of the Bill also includes provisions “to combat the trafficking of persons within and across the borders of Grenada.”
Minister Thomas said the introduction of Grenada’s Prevention of Persons in Human Trafficking Bill is timely, given the current developments in Nigeria. “With this new proposed legislation, Grenada takes its rightful place among self-respecting nations that have put the effective mechanism in place to act against such evil.”
By Linda Straker