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# 									Child Protection Compact Partnership Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Jamaica							

Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons

May 31, 2018

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	The Government of the United States of America (“the United States”) and the Government of Jamaica (“Jamaica”), hereinafter the “Participants”;

*Acknowledging*the respective leadership roles and responsibilities of the United States Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office) and Jamaica’s National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons (NATFATIP) and Office of the National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons (ONRTIP) in the fight against human trafficking;

*Concerned*that child trafficking has a devastating and lasting impact on children; undermines security and the rule of law; is sometimes linked to organized crime, gang violence, corrupt officials, or other criminal activity in Jamaica;

*Demonstrating*our shared interest in partnering to improve efforts to combat all forms of child trafficking in Jamaica and the need for a concerted and well-coordinated response;

*Noting*Jamaica’s current and planned efforts related to the implementation of its National Plan of Action 2015-2018 for Combating Trafficking in Persons, its draft National Plan of Action for an Integrated Response to Children and Violence, and the recommendations in the United States Department of State’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report to enhance Jamaica’s effectiveness in prosecuting traffickers, protecting victims, and preventing trafficking in persons;

*Recognizing*existing and ongoing cooperation between the United States and Jamaica on matters related to child trafficking, including programs of the United States Department of State to enhance cooperation among Caribbean countries to combat trafficking in persons, of the United States Agency for International Development to combat gender-based violence including trafficking in persons, of the United States Department of Labor to decrease child labor, and of United States law enforcement agencies to provide investigative support and related training to Jamaican officials; and

*Desiring*to conclude this Child Protection Compact (CPC) Partnership, to work collaboratively in Jamaica over the next four years to build on the Jamaican government’s strong existing anti-trafficking efforts to achieve improved and sustainable policies and practices for holding perpetrators of child trafficking criminally accountable, identifying child victims of trafficking in persons, coordinating the provision of comprehensive protective and reintegration services, and preventing child trafficking from occurring in Jamaica;

	Have reached the following understandings:
        - Context for a Partnership against Child Trafficking 

	The Participants acknowledge that:
        - Children in Jamaica are subjected to both sex and labor trafficking. Child sex trafficking may occur in bars, nightclubs, hotels, massage parlors, in the tourism sector, and within communities. Child labor trafficking may take the form of domestic servitude, forced criminal activity, forced begging, and forced child labor in fishing, on farms, or in shops, construction sites, or markets. Traffickers may be citizens or non-citizens, business owners or employees, gang members, public officials, family members, acquaintances, or other members of the community including strangers; sexual abuse places children at an increased risk of becoming victims of sex or labor trafficking; and such crimes may occur in all of Jamaica’s fourteen parishes.
        - Several Jamaican agencies share responsibility for the implementation of programs to prosecute child traffickers, protect child trafficking victims, and prevent child trafficking. The NATFATIP, which receives a dedicated budget, coordinates the implementation of Jamaica’s National Plan of Action 2015-2018 for Combating Trafficking in Persons. The Jamaican government will prepare an updated National Plan of Action for Combating Trafficking in Persons prior to the current plan’s expiration at the end of 2018.
        - While the Jamaican government has strong political will to combat child trafficking, there is still a need to enhance its efforts in identifying child trafficking victims and successfully prosecuting child trafficking cases.
        - Child trafficking victims need greater access to comprehensive, trauma-informed protection services, and agencies with responsibility for victim protection need additional funding, resources, and staff to provide this care.
        - Delays in court cases and the limited availability of services for victims serve as disincentives for them to participate in trials, limiting the effectiveness of judicial processes. The Ministry of Justice’s Victim Services Division (VSD) in Jamaica has limited capacity to provide adequate support to child trafficking victims during trials. There is need for greater cooperation among law enforcement officials and victim service providers to ensure victims receive sustained support. Strengthened protection, reintegration, and follow-up services would support victims’ health and wellbeing, decrease their vulnerability to re-trafficking, and enhance their participation in the criminal justice process.
        - The Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offenses and Child Abuse (CISOCA) Unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in Kingston – which engages a team of social workers, medical professionals and legal officers – represents a potential multidisciplinary model for interviewing and providing assistance to child trafficking victims immediately following their removal from trafficking situations.
        - Nationwide research is needed to better understand the nature and scope of child trafficking in Jamaica and to inform policies and programs to combat this crime.
        - ONRTIP has limited resources to fulfill its mandate to collect data, monitor, and report on the government’s anti-trafficking efforts. Improved data collection would assist Jamaican government agencies in assessing the effectiveness of existing anti-trafficking efforts, publicizing their work, securing and allocating funds, and developing data-informed policies and programs.
        - Jamaica has taken steps to investigate and prosecute persons suspected of participating in human trafficking; nonetheless, there are challenges in prosecuting this crime and increased efforts are needed to address this crime and hold accountable persons who participate in or facilitate human trafficking crimes.
        - Although the Jamaican government has made efforts to educate the public on human trafficking, greater awareness and understanding among the full range of relevant government officials, the public, the media, and civil society is necessary to improve the identification of children exploited in sex or labor trafficking.
        - Civil society in Jamaica has limited experience in combating human trafficking; building its capacity to recognize and address this problem and to work cooperatively with the government will greatly enhance efforts to identify and protect child trafficking victims and prevent the occurrence of child trafficking.

	 
        - Benefits, Intentions, and Commitments of a CPC Partnership between the Participants 

	 

	This CPC Partnership between the Participants is jointly developed and will be jointly implemented as a four-year plan intended to strengthen the capacity of the Jamaican government and civil society to address all forms of child trafficking in Jamaica effectively and thereby strengthen existing efforts to eradicate these crimes. In support of this CPC Partnership, the Participants commit to the following:
        - The TIP Office intends to provide 4.5 million United States dollars (USD 4,500,000) in foreign assistance to civil society and/or international organizations that will collaborate and cooperate with relevant NATFATIP representative bodies and other stakeholders to support implementation of the objectives and activities described in Section IV. United States funds will not be provided directly to the Government of Jamaica.

	The TIP Office will select implementing partners through a competitive grant application process after the signing of this CPC Partnership, in accordance with all rules and regulations for United States government funding.

	The TIP Office will manage the grants to the implementing partners and will facilitate communication including direct communication between implementing partners and participating Jamaican government ministries, departments, and agencies. The TIP Office will provide periodic updates to the Government of Jamaica on the status and outcomes of programs being carried out by implementing partners.
        - The Government of Jamaica, through its relevant ministries, departments, and agencies, in accordance with its legislative and fiscal responsibility framework, will dedicate appropriate staff resources and operating budget funding to support and sustain achievement of the objectives and activities described in Section IV, throughout the course of this Partnership and with the view to sustaining the activities beyond this four-year Partnership.

	The Government of Jamaica will ensure the cooperation of all participating ministries, departments, and agencies throughout the term of this Partnership. Jamaican government ministries, departments, and agencies, as related to their policy and operational responsibilities, will cooperate with the implementing partners to support the goals and objectives.

	The Government of Jamaica will develop and implement methods of integrating policies and procedures initiated under this Partnership, as appropriate, into Jamaican law enforcement, judicial, child protection, and community-based governance structures, and the next iteration of its National Plan of Action for Combating Trafficking in Persons.

	 
        - CPC Partnership Purpose 

	The purpose of this CPC Partnership between the Participants is to strengthen the efforts of the Jamaican government to effectively prosecute and convict child traffickers, and to work with civil society to identify victims of child trafficking, to provide comprehensive trauma-informed care for child victims of these crimes, and to prevent child trafficking in all its forms.
        - CPC Partnership Objectives and Activities 

**Objective 1: Increase the number of victim-centered investigations, prosecutions, and convictions of child trafficking cases.**

	In order to achieve this objective, the Participants will cooperate in the following areas and activities:
        -            - Develop and/or strengthen existing national inter- and intra-agency protocols for coordination between criminal justice system officials and victim advocates and service providers, and implement these protocols to ensure effective victim-centered handling of child trafficking cases from detection through prosecution; 
        -            - Improve methods for ensuring victim-centered approaches  (i.e., providing child-friendly trauma-informed services and prioritizing the protection, security, and wellbeing of the victim ) in law enforcement operations, investigations, and criminal justice proceedings, including by enhancing the capacity of social workers at the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) and personnel at the Ministry of Justice’s Victim Services Division (VSD), as well as coordination with civil society; 
        -            - Improve the technical capacity of investigators, prosecutors, and judges and develop methods to enable effective and timely judicial processes and sentencing in trafficking cases; 
        -            - Using existing infrastructure such as CISOCA Units, establish multidisciplinary, child-friendly spaces in locations across the country, for interviewing child trafficking victims and providing medical and psycho-social care immediately following their removal from trafficking situations; 
        -            - Increase resources to enhance ONRTIP’s capacity to collect data, monitor, and report on anti-trafficking efforts, particularly the implementation of victim-centered methods during investigations and prosecutions; 
        -            - Increase efforts to detect, investigate, criminally prosecute, and punish officials who permit or facilitate trafficking crimes; and 
        -            - Strengthen and maintain systems to collect and report relevant investigation, prosecution, conviction, and sentencing data, including disaggregation by number of defendants, the criminal offense charged, type of exploitation, and age, gender, and place of origin of victims. 

**Objective 2: Strengthen government and civil society capacity to identify and provide comprehensive services to more child trafficking victims, from identification through protective care, community reintegration, and long-term follow-up services.**

	In order to achieve this objective, the Participants will cooperate in the following areas and activities:

	2.1 Develop standardized procedures for identification of victims, including

	screening vulnerable children to determine whether they may be victims of sex or labor trafficking, and a national referral mechanism for referring suspected victims to appropriate authorities and/or select NGOs as deemed appropriate by the Government of Jamaica for further investigation and comprehensive care;

	2.2 Provide training to relevant authorities (including frontline police in the

	JCF and all CISOCA officers; social workers; staff of the Children’s Registry; healthcare workers; justices of the peace; the Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s Occupational Safety and Health inspectors, investigators, labor officers, and social workers; immigration officers; and consular officers) on all forms of child sex and labor trafficking and procedures for implementing victim identification and referral guidelines nationwide;

	2.3 Designate a lead agency, such as CPFSA, to provide individual case management and coordinate the provision of comprehensive services to child trafficking victims (from identification through reintegration and follow-up, and relevant criminal proceedings) and develop this agency’s capacity to serve in this role;

	2.4 Strengthen the capacity of relevant authorities to provide individualized comprehensive, trauma-informed care to child trafficking victims (including shelter, medical care, case management, psycho-social counseling, repatriation, temporary or long-term residency, education and/or job training, legal assistance, reintegration, and follow-up) and develop and/or strengthen existing policies to clearly articulate their respective roles, responsibilities, and authorities;

	2.5 Using existing infrastructure, expand the availability of shelter spaces that are appropriately staffed and equipped to provide quality care to all child trafficking victims;

	2.6 Expand the availability of psychologists, psychiatrists, community mental health nurses, social workers including social workers assigned to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, and victim services staff across the country that are equipped to provide specialized psycho-social care to child trafficking victims;

	2.7 Build the capacity of civil society organizations to proactively identify and respond to child trafficking crimes and to collaborate with government authorities to provide trauma-informed care to child trafficking victims from identification through reintegration and follow up;

	2.8 Increase resources to enhance ONRTIP’s capacity to collect data, monitor, and report on the provision of comprehensive protective services to child trafficking victims;

	2.9 Increase reintegration and follow-up services for child trafficking victims, including risk assessment, preparation for reintegration, and connecting victims and /or their families to livelihood opportunities; and

	2.10 Strengthen and maintain systems to collect and report data on victims of child trafficking and services provided, including disaggregation by age, gender, place of origin, and type of exploitation.

**Objective 3: Increase efforts to prevent child trafficking, including through developing and strengthening community-based mechanisms.**

	In order to achieve this objective, the Participants will cooperate in the following areas and activities:

	3.1 Conduct nationwide research on the prevalence of child sex and labor trafficking in Jamaica and the nature of these crimes, including links to other criminal activity such as gang violence and child sexual abuse and the sociocultural factors that make children vulnerable to these crimes;

	3.2 Develop and finalize an updated National Plan of Action for Combating Trafficking in Persons prior to the expiration of the current plan, and secure adequate funds for its implementation;

	3.3  Build the capacity of Social Development Commission (SDC) personnel, community health aides, school staff, religious leaders, civil society members, and the public to proactively identify child trafficking victims, including cases of domestic servitude, sex trafficking occurring within the community, and less recognized forms of child trafficking; take appropriate action once cases are identified; and facilitate the reintegration of child trafficking victims into their communities;

	3. 4 Develop and implement comprehensive community-based outreach and education activities that are targeted, locally appropriate, and have a particular focus on identifying, responding to, and preventing child trafficking crimes that occur within the community;

	3. 5 Take steps to prevent foreign nationals from exploiting Jamaican children in sex trafficking, including through cooperating with foreign authorities to prevent suspected child sex tourists from entering the country; and

	3.6 Strengthen systems to collect and report parish data on prevention activities and community-based victim identification efforts, including disaggregation by age, gender, type of exploitation.
        - Departments, Offices, and Institutions Participating in the CPC Partnership
        - The Government of the United States:

	United States Department of State
        - Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office)

	The TIP Office leads the United States’ global engagement to combat human trafficking. The Office partners with foreign governments, international organizations, and civil society to develop and implement effective strategies for confronting trafficking in persons, including through targeted foreign assistance implementing the “3P” paradigm: prosecuting traffickers, protecting victims, and preventing trafficking.
        - Embassy of the United States in Kingston

	The Embassy coordinates directly with the Government of Jamaica to advance the shared goal of combating trafficking in persons. Embassy offices collaborate with Jamaican government and civil society counterparts to sensitize the public, train officials to identify victims and prosecute trafficking in persons cases, and cooperate with Jamaican authorities in international trafficking investigations.
        - The Government of Jamaica
        - National Taskforce Against Trafficking in Persons (NATFATIP)

	NATFATIP is chaired by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice and composed of the Ministry of Justice; Ministry of National Security; Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; Jamaica Constabulary Force; Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions; Ministry of Labor and Social Security; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Education, Youth, and Information; Ministry of Tourism; Attorney General’s Office; Child Protection and Family Services Agency; Passport, Immigration, and Citizenship Agency; Bureau of Gender Affairs; Planning Institute of Jamaica; Victim Services Division; Center for Investigation of Sexual Offenses and Child Abuse; Office of the Children’s Advocate; Justice Training Institute, among others. It functions through three sub-committees responsible for addressing prevention, protection, and prosecution. Each sub-committee includes representatives from multiple agencies and organizations in order to coordinate activities under Jamaica’s National Plan of Action 2015-2018 for Combating Trafficking in Persons.
        - Office of the National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons (ONRTIP)

	The National Rapporteur reports to Parliament on issues relating to trafficking in persons in Jamaica, including the outcomes of the government’s efforts to combat trafficking in persons and any violations of the rights of victims. ONRTIP also has the authority to conduct independent reviews of alleged instances of trafficking in persons.
        - Other Jamaican government entities at the national and local levels, such as the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development and the Heart Trust, may participate in activities in support of the objectives of the CPC Partnership.
        - Communications 

	The Government of Jamaica will establish a CPC Partnership technical committee comprised of representatives designated by each participating Ministry, Department and Agency (MDA) who are knowledgeable of relevant operations and would serve as focal persons to work on implementation of the Partnership, ensure that reporting requirements are met, and work collaboratively with NATFATIP.

	Communications required under this CPC Partnership will be in writing and submitted to the Point of Contact (POC) designated by each Participant as indicated below. Notice of a change in POC should be provided in writing to the other POCs within 30 days of such change. The POCs will facilitate intra- and interagency communication regarding CPC Partnership activities, including semi-annual reporting to the NATFATIP of progress toward meeting objectives and completing activities of the CPC Partnership.

**Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons POC:**

	Name: Kendra Kreider	Title: Senior Advisor	Institution: United States Department of State	Office: Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons	Email address: kreiderk@state.gov	Telephone: +1-202-312-9824

**Ministry of Justice/National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons POC:**

	Name: Carol Palmer	Title: Permanent Secretary	Institution: Ministry of Justice/National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons	Office: Office of the Permanent Secretary	Email address: carol.palmer@moj.gov.jm	Telephone: (876) 906-2404
        - Effective Date and Limitations 

	This CPC Partnership will become effective on the date of its signature by designated representatives of the Participants and will remain effective for four years from that date. TIP Office-supported activities will commence before the end of 2018 and extend through 2022. This Partnership does not constitute an international agreement and does not create any binding obligations between the Participants under either international or domestic law. Activities of each Participant will be subject to budget availability, in accordance with national legislation.
        - Modification 

	This CPC Partnership may be modified or extended with the mutual written consent of the Participants.
        - Sustainability 

	The Participants aim for the policy and operational improvements in Jamaica’s response to all forms of child trafficking, which will have been achieved with the support and during the course of this CPC Partnership, to continue following the conclusion of this CPC Partnership. Within two years of the signing of this Partnership the NATFATIP will develop a plan for sustaining such improvements.
        - Reporting Progress and Evaluating Impact of the CPC Partnership 
        - NATFATIP, on behalf of the Government of Jamaica, will provide semi-annual reports to the TIP Office describing progress toward meeting the objectives and completing the activities of the CPC Partnership, including quantitative and qualitative data corresponding to associated performance indicators to be developed in writing with the mutual consent of the Participants.
        - The TIP Office will monitor the progress of implementing partners toward meeting the CPC Partnership objectives and completing the activities. The TIP Office will also fund an evaluation of this Partnership, with collaboration from the Participants.
        - The Participants will meet annually to share information, taking into account any requirements for confidentiality, and discuss progress toward achieving the objectives and completing the activities of the CPC Partnership.
        - Resolution of Differences 

	Any differences that may arise regarding the interpretation of or implementation of activities under this Partnership will be resolved through consultations between the Participants in an amicable manner.

**Signed in Kingston on May 31, 2018, in two originals, in the English language.**

**______________________________ ______________________________**

	 

**U.S.-Jamaica CPC Partnership Implementation Plan**

**Objective 1: Increase the number of victim-centered investigations, prosecutions, and convictions of child trafficking cases.**

	 

**Objective 2: Strengthen government and civil society capacity to identify and provide comprehensive services to more child trafficking victims, from identification through protective care, community reintegration, and long-term follow-up services.**

	 

**Objective 3: Increase efforts to prevent child trafficking, including through developing and strengthening community-based mechanisms.**

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Human TraffickingOffice to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons

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