Port of Spain, 5 December 2023: The International Organization for Migration (IOM – UN Migration) in Trinidad and Tobago, recently hosted its Global Migration Film Festival (GMFF) on 2nd December 2023 at the Samaan Estate, St. Clair. The film festival is held annually in IOM Member States around the world, as a platform to build understanding and create dialogue on the topic of migration.  The theme for this year’s GMFF in Trinidad was Trafficking in Persons, an exploitative criminal activity that impacts the Caribbean region.  Recent reports have identified that Trinidad and Tobago is increasingly used as a source, destination and transit country for criminal networks involved in the trafficking of persons, including young women and children. As one of the largest counter-trafficking organizations in the world, IOM has been working to prevent and fight trafficking in human beings since 1994.

A short film, “The Twelve Thousand”, based on a true story, was screened at the GMFF.  The Festival used this film to raise awareness and spark a discussion on the harrowing implications of human trafficking. “The Twelve Thousand” follows Sona through her trafficking experience from Nepal to India where she is sold into sex trafficking. 

Speaking at the Opening Ceremony, Ms. Jewel Ali, Head of Office, IOM Trinidad and Tobago, noted that, “Like many other countries around the world, Trinidad and Tobago continues to grapple with the challenge of Trafficking in Persons. Human trafficking is a crime and grave human rights violation affecting men, women and children. Traffickers capitalize on the widespread human, material, social and economic losses and consequent vulnerabilities of crises and emergencies. Humanitarian crises not only intensify existing trends of Trafficking in Persons, but they can also lead to new forms of trafficking.”

Following the screening of the film, a panel discussion was held, moderated by Ms. Vidya Lall, Senior Instructor at the Institute of Criminology and Public Safety (ICPS), University of Trinidad and Tobago.  The panel featured Ms. Jewel Ali on behalf of IOM; Dr. Samantha Chaitram, Director of the Counter Trafficking Unit – Ministry of National Security; Mr. Ken Ramdhan, Project Lead (Parenting Education and Special Projects) from Families in Action; and Mr. Garth St. Clair, Co-host and Co-producer, Eye on Dependency.

Members of Government including Minister Adrian Leonce, Minister in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, other Members of the Diplomatic Corps, and as well as representatives of UN agencies, civil society, academia and youth ambassadors were present for the screening, and took active part in the discussions.

Mr. Derek Sarchet, Political Officer of the Embassy of the United States of America in Trinidad and Tobago, when speaking on behalf of the event’s main donor, the U.S. Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM), highlighted that “the United States is committed to combatting human trafficking because it represents an attack on human rights and freedoms. Trafficking harms our societies: weakening the rule of law, corrupting supply chains, exploiting workers, fueling violence.”

The Global Migration Film Festival remains an integral platform in the ongoing fight against human trafficking and in fostering dialogue within all of society and all of committee to effect meaningful change.

For information on IOM and its work in Trinidad and Tobago, contact kserrant@iom.int.