CMNT_TITLE

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Bahamas (RATIFICATION: 1976)

Other comments on C029

Direct Request

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Articles 1(1), 2(1) and 25 of the Convention. Trafficking in persons. The Committee notes that section 3(2) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention and Suppression) Act No. 27 of 2008 defines and criminalizes trafficking in persons for the purpose of exploitation (which includes commercial sexual exploitation, forced labour, practices similar to slavery and servitude) and provides for sanctions ranging from three years to life imprisonment. In addition, the convict shall be subject to forfeiture of property, and be ordered to pay full restitution to the victim (section 3(1)). The Committee notes the Government’s information in its report that in March 2022, two persons were prosecuted for conspiring to engage in the trafficking of two minor girls for sexual exploitation. One of the accused who took a plea deal to testify against the other defendant was sentenced to three years of probation and six months of counselling. The Government indicates that the case is still under investigation.

The Committee further notes that the Government, in its report of March 2023 to the United Nations Human Rights Council (A/HRC/WG.6/43/BHS/1, paragraphs 35 to 48), indicates that the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Secretariat established in 2019 is the national body to coordinate trafficking in persons activities, while the Trafficking in Persons Inter-Ministry Committee and the Trafficking in Persons Task Force deals with matters pertaining to investigations, prosecutions, victim care, training and public awareness. According to this report: (i) in 2019, a five-year Strategic TIP Action Plan 2019–23 was approved by the Government; (ii) from 2019–22, the TIP Inter-Ministry Committee trained a total of 3,399 persons from government, non-government agencies and members of the general public; provided specialized training to TIP Investigators; and distributed and disseminated 23,980 brochures on trafficking in persons, child trafficking, labour trafficking and rights of victims; (iii) six new labour inspectors were hired and trained to identify and handle cases related to trafficking in persons and the Special Prosecutorial Team assigned to prosecute TIP cases was also increased; (iv) in 2023, 29 incidents of trafficking in persons were recorded by the police, of which two cases were concluded in the Magistrate’s Court. The Committee finally notes from this report that the TIP Task Force provides comprehensive services, including food, utility, travel, medical, psychological counselling, school uniforms and supplies as well as job readiness skills and monthly stipends to facilitate the well-being and recovery of victims.

The Committee encourages the Government to continue its efforts to combat trafficking in persons, both for sexual and labour exploitation, and requests the Government to provide information on the activities undertaken by the TIP Inter-Ministry Committee and the TIP Task Force with a view to preventing trafficking, raise awareness, strengthen capacities, and provide assistance and support to victims of trafficking. It also requests the Government to provide information on any assessment of the implementation of the five-year Strategic TIP Action Plan 2019–23, recommendations formulated and measures taken thereof. The Committee further requests the Government to continue to provide information on the investigations and prosecutions related to trafficking in persons carried out, the number of perpetrators convicted, the sanctions imposed, and restitution paid to the victims under section 3(1) and (2) of the Trafficking in Persons Act 2008.