PIOJ: Most 2025 trafficking victims in Jamaica were women exploited sexually

Jamaica recorded 26 confirmed human trafficking victims in 2025, of whom 25 were women and 20 had been sexually exploited, the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) states in the Economic and Social Survey Jamaica, 2025.

According to the institute, authorities opened 79 probes that year and arrested and charged nine suspected traffickers — five women and four men. “Twelve prosecutions were initiated and advanced through the courts. Two matters were concluded, one of which resulted in conviction and a custodial sentence of 33 years and eight months,” the PIOJ said. A separate case under the Child Care and Protection Act also ended, with a fine of $200,000 imposed.

Victim-support capacity grew as the same 26 people — 25 females and one male — were identified. Twenty had faced sexual exploitation, five forced labour, and one both forms of abuse. In line with national protocols, each received help such as housing, counselling, and medical and legal aid.

“Preventive efforts expanded through sensitisation and public education initiatives nationwide, led by various government ministries, departments and agencies,” the PIOJ said. More than 8,000 people received awareness sessions, and the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Anti-TIP (Trafficking in Persons) outreach issued 13,305 brochures. The Tourism Product Development Company trained 2,565 tourism-sector workers to spot and report trafficking.

To highlight the crime’s gravity, the Child Protection and Family Services Agency worked with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security on an islandwide town and community blitz during Trafficking in Persons week last July. Coordinated national action and the National Trafficking in Persons Plan of Action further bolstered the response.

“These efforts resulted in Jamaica maintaining its Tier 2 ranking, based on the 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report by the United States Department of State,” the report said. The institute noted that national priorities covered all three pillars of the anti-trafficking framework: building capacity among multi-sector partners under the National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons; more investigations; tougher sentencing results; stronger digital awareness tools; and wider public education drives.