Assistance to and protection of victims of trafficking is guided by Sections 32-44 of the Trafficking in Persons Act Chap 12:10
Once an individual exhibiting human trafficking indicators is referred to or encountered by officials of the Counter Trafficking Unit, the following steps are taken:
1. The person is screened by an official attached to the CTU who is trained in screening victims of human trafficking. This screening process involves a list of questions that seek to determine if in fact the person was exploited and if so, in what way. These questions also determine whether or not the person, if deemed to be a victim wishes to remain in Trinidad and Tobago or return to his/her home country.
2. It is to be noted that the person being screened is provided with a certified interpreter that speaks the same language as the person being screened. This is to ensure that proper and accurate communication takes place between the person being screened and the CTU official screening the person.
3. In instances where a child is being screened, a victim witness support officer or a social worker is also present to lend further comfort to the child. A victim witness support officer or a social worker is also present for adults in special circumstances.
4. Once the person is deemed to be a victim of human trafficking, that person indicates whether he/she wishes to return home. Regardless of the decision, the CTU offers assistance and protection to the victim until that person is voluntarily repatriated or in the case of a victim who wishes to remain in Trinidad and Tobago, for the duration of the victim’s investigation and court proceedings.
5. The assistance meted out to the victim is guided by sections 32-44 of the Trafficking in Persons Act. On this basis, a victim of human trafficking is provided with the following:
Food, clothing, safe accommodation, access to legal counsel, legal documents as needed, psychological counselling, medical and dental assistance, access to education and skills-based training, assistance with obtaining jobs and opening bank accounts and assistance to return home.
The object of the Act is to prescribe measures to prevent and combat trafficking in persons including children, by—
(a) protecting and assisting victims of trafficking;
(b) facilitating the efficient investigation of cases of trafficking in persons;
(c) facilitating the prosecution of individuals and organizations involved in trafficking in persons; and
(d) promoting cooperation between Trinidad and Tobago and other States in order to prevent and suppress trafficking in persons and to punish offenders.
