As Secretariat to the Caribbean Coalition Against Trafficking in Persons (CCATIP), Free the Slaves supported the Coalition’s first-anniversary observance by convening a virtual Caribbean Anti-Trafficking Conference over four half-days, July 21–24, 2025. The Leadership Committee used the occasion to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the UN Optional Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (the Palermo Protocol), observe World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, and, in line with CCATIP’s and FTS’s emphasis on stakeholder wellbeing, culminate on International Self-Care Day.
Planning with Regional Reach
A Planning Committee finalized the theme, agenda, speaker lineup, and marketing. Members included a consultant from Barbados; representatives of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS); the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC); the International Organization for Migration (IOM); Free the Slaves; the Belize CSO Anti-Trafficking Coalition; Beyond Borders; and the Founder of the Caribbean Survivor Network. Reflecting regional unity, members came from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Theme and Objectives
Titled “Reflections: 25 Years of the Implementation of the Palermo Protocol in the Caribbean Community,” the Conference pursued five objectives: assess progress by Caribbean governments in implementing the Palermo Protocol; share national and regional innovations, challenges, and lessons; evaluate alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals; facilitate survivor-informed and youth-inclusive approaches across the 4 Ps; and identify strategic priorities for the next five to ten years.
Opening remarks from CCATIP Chair Mrs. Diahann Gordon Harrison, FTS Executive Director Bukeni Waruzi, IOM Caribbean Deputy Coordinator Ms. Eraina Yaw, and CARICOM IMPACS Assistant Director Corporate Services Earl Harris set the stage. In the keynote, UNODC Programme Officer for Central America and the Caribbean (HTMSS) Mr. Mario Cordero underscored that trafficking intersects with organized crime, yet perpetrators are often known to victims and communities—requiring a shift in prevention: “So not just tougher laws, but stronger families, safer schools and informed communities.” He also called for strategies to address consumer demand that makes trafficking profitable.
Day 1: National Frameworks and Civil Society Practice
Under the theme “Reflecting on 25 Years – The Palermo Protocol and the Caribbean Response,” representatives from the Governments of Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago discussed the evolution of national anti-trafficking frameworks and current successes. Civil society organizations from Belize, Haiti, and Trinidad and Tobago highlighted promising practices and regional gaps. One example was a grassroots movement engaging men as allies against trafficking in persons to reduce demand for commercial sex, which fuels sex trafficking.
Day 2: Justice, Protection, and Survivor Empowerment
Experienced investigators, prosecutors, and judges from Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Belize described how practice changes have improved conviction rates against traffickers. UNODC shared its new Regional Trafficking in Persons Guide on Improving Criminal Prosecutions to support justice-sector actors. Speakers from UNODC, CARICOM IMPACS, and a Jamaica-based IT consultant addressed the rise of technology-facilitated trafficking, outlining trends, threats, and opportunities for responsible use of technology in prevention, identification, and prosecution. Justice-system actors were encouraged to make space for survivors to lead across policy, law, programming, and monitoring and evaluation. Representatives from Beyond Borders (Haiti), Families in Action (Trinidad and Tobago), and the Caribbean Survivor Network emphasized that survivors contribute far beyond storytelling or testimony; lived experience should inform stronger and more effective policies, laws, and plans.
Day 3: Youth Perspectives and Emerging Risks
UNODC data show trafficking in children has increased three-fold over the past 15 years, yet youth are seldom engaged in shaping the policies, plans, and laws meant to protect them. Caribbean and Commonwealth youth shared perspectives on climate change as a driver of vulnerability, and on attempts to exploit children online and offline. Participants explored digital storytelling, media, and the arts as avenues to meaningfully engage youth as advocates against trafficking in persons.
Day 4: Data, Wellbeing, and Decent Work
Participants underscored the value of data for stronger outcomes: targeted collection and use can improve prosecutions and protection; measuring self-care knowledge, attitudes, and practices among anti-trafficking stakeholders can inform recommendations to support long-term wellbeing; and developing objective business-sector standards can promote decent work and reduce forced labor. IOM, UNODC, and the Caribbean Survivor Network collaborated on a case scenario exercise to help participants apply conference learning. A CARICOM representative and consultants from Barbados, Belize, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines outlined elements for a Regional Anti-Trafficking Roadmap to 2030. CCATIP Chair Diahann Gordon Harrison’s closing summary captured four days of key takeaways and next steps.
Participation, Self-Care, and Feedback
On average, more than 100 people attended daily. Each day concluded with a self-care session led by a Jamaican survivor leader, the founder of Finding Your Light Foundation Inc. Participation in these sessions affirmed the importance and relevance of self-care for practitioners addressing challenging subject matter. Forum evaluation results indicated that participants agreed the objectives were fulfilled; 100% were satisfied or very satisfied with the knowledge gained; presenters received an average rating of 9.04 out of 10; and all respondents rated the self-care sessions as helpful.
Impact and Next Steps
The Conference reinforced a region-wide commitment to survivor-informed practice, youth inclusion, justice-system strengthening, responsible use of technology, and data-driven approaches—linking the Palermo Protocol’s implementation to tangible protections and accountability. In the aftermath of the 2025 Caribbean Anti-Trafficking Conference, CCATIP is exploring the creation of an Implementation Committee to review, assess, and develop strategies to bring the most viable recommendations to fruition.
Resources
Conference report with daily recommendations: https://links.freetheslaves.net/2025-Caribbean-Conference-Report
CCATIP website: https://ccatip.org/
Recordings playlist on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CCATIPMedia
