Appeal #4: Regulate Borders To Stop Belize Human Trafficking

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Organization for Responsible Tourism (ORT) has released “Appeal #4: Regulate Belize Border Crossings to Stop Human Trafficking,” a recommendation document focusing on immigration practices at Belize’s Melchor and Jalacte borders, ORT President (I-Newswire) July 4, 2010 - “Melchor and Jalacte borders are human trafficking flow-through points, offering human traffickers unrestricted passage between Guatemala and Belize,” said Trill. “Human traffickers would be seriously blocked if these two borders and others like them were regulated and monitored rigorously by the Belize immigration department.”

Recommitting to working in partnership with Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow, Trill said that tightening immigration protocol and practice at these two borders would require only simple and inexpensive measures to block human traffickers.

Melchor Border Crossing

The Melchor border crossing is an inadequate immigration and customs facility with a station and a check in. Immigration officers are paid off openly by human traffickers. It is very common for human trafficking victims to be driven across this border in the trunks of taxis. Between 350 and 600 human trafficking victims are transported through his border on a monthly basis.

Jalacte Border Crossing

The Jalacte border crossing is a completely unmanned Belize/Guatemala borderline. In this no-man’s-land, human traffickers easily transport their victims between the two countries, with no monitoring taking place. About 400 human trafficking victims are transported across this border monthly.

The basic problem is human traffickers count on a bribery system to keep the steady flow of trafficking victims moving across borders. As well, they count on unmanned or poorly staffed borderlines to maintain their human trafficking industry.

ORT recommends inexpensive and simple ways to address human trafficking all Belize border crossings:

· Improve the existing immigration computer system so that it accurately and reliably keeps track of who goes in and out of the country

· Cameras that monitor border staff

· Frequent immigration department inspections

· Training for border staff

· Penalties and enforcement of penalties, including criminal prosecution and conviction for all border staff who take bribes, including their superiors.

“Human traffickers count on bribery and sieve-like borders to conduct their business,” said Trill. “We urge Prime Minister Barrow to begin tightening immigration policy and enforcement of laws, starting at Belize’s Melchor and Jalacte borders.”

ORT invites all individuals and groups to submit Appeal #3 to the Government of Belize. Appeal #3 is a supplement to the preceding “Appeal to Stop Human Trafficking In Belize.”

ORT promotes traveling for a better world.

Appeal #4: Regulate Borders To Stop Belize Human Trafficking