Ensuring that empathy governs all initiatives to assist victims and survivors of human trafficking was the focus of discussions this week between the Directorate of the Counter-Trafficking Unit (CTU) and the National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons Protection Working Group (NTFWG).
On its Facebook page, the CTU reports that the two parties met on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, and one major outcome of the talks is that Memoranda of Understanding will soon be signed that will promote smoother coordination and enhanced support systems for trafficking victims.
The CTU’s release notes that Deputy Director, Dane-Marie Marshall, explained to the NTFWG members that the organisation’s vision extends to “facilitating seamless reintegration of victims into society, nurturing them into resilient survivors.”
“The Directorate is striving to shift mindsets and cultures within the CTU workspace, to ensure that every action taken is grounded in empathy and care for victims,” the CTU Deputy Director stated.
Deputy Director of the CTU, Dane-Marie Marshall, emphasises a point during the meeting with members of the National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons Protection Working Group (NTFWG), on Tuesday 9 April 2024. [Image courtesy Counter Trafficking Unit TT]
The CTU also reports that two members of the Protection Working Group were invited to participate in an upcoming workshop dedicated to the standardization of screening forms.
“This collaborative effort marks another stride forward in building a future where victims are not just statistics but individuals deserving of dignity and support,” the CTU statement said.
The National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons Protection Working Group comprises officials from the Police Service, government ministries and civil society.
In attendance at Tuesday’s meeting were Karen Besson-Lezama, Ag. Social Welfare Supervisor III, Ministry of Social Development and Family Services; Angelique Taylor, Senior Planning Officer and Research, Ministry of Social Development and Family Services; Marian Taylor, President, Rape Crisis Society; Andreina Briceño Ventura-Browne, Managing Director, La Casita Hispanic Cultural Centre; and Sergeant Larry David, Special Victims Department, Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.