TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS |
In one interview, a journalist recounted her experience with a victim of human trafficking and the issue of stigmatization and victim-blaming was raised. The journalist said that in the case of the Venezuelan migrant who was trafficked, she was afraid to seek help based on the fear of being shunned in Trinidad as there have been sentiments of animosity against Venezuelans. Society’s misconceptions about trafficking victims can contribute to their marginalization and inhibit their ability to access support services or engage with the media. In Antigua and Barbuda, an expert in TIP who works with the counter-trafficking unit in Antigua, shared the observation that “media coverage is not usually balanced and there have been many instances where human trafficking is used interchangeably with migrant smuggling because it may sound more exciting.” Media coverage in Antigua and Barbuda tends to focus on the problem, often making it appear bigger than it really is. There are instances where media coverage of human trafficking may contain false information or contribute to misconceptions as a result of lack of understanding, and unverified sources. Media coverage in Antigua and Barbuda has frequently criticized or downplayed the efforts made by law enforcement to combat human trafficking. The efforts of people working to identify, screen, and protect victims are usually overlooked. Trafficking in Persons was highly politicized in Trinidad and Tobago and over a three-week period there were several sensational reports (eleven reports) in the media which detracted from the issue itself. The central story revolved around an allegation made by a former government minister that he knew of politicians who were involved in human trafficking. The media carried a series of reports of responses from several politicians on the allegation. During this period there was no attempt by any media house to do a deep dive into the accusation. The media consistently carried the barrage of comments by opposition and ruling party. The perspectives where stories presented coverage of victims, showcased them as vulnerable and these can be characterized as Victimization Narratives . The downside of such stories is that it can sometimes oversimplify the complexities of the victims’ experiences. Dilution of the causes and solutions in TIP stories is evident in this story from the Barbados Nation, 6 th August 2021, titled “Call for more protection for sex workers.” (Appendix 7). The headline is also an attention- grabber and considered to be sensational. The story itself became diluted and dealt more with overall efforts and lost the focus on the victims’ circumstances. Human Interest Narratives and the stories of victimization were rare. Yet the very few which were examined were impactful in that it showed the depth of the issue in an emotional manner which made for unique and appealing content. Human interest journalism plays a significant role in reporting on human trafficking stories for several reasons including raising awareness where the stories focus on the personal aspects of news, making complex issues like human trafficking more relatable and understandable to the general public. By highlighting individual experiences, these stories can raise awareness about the severity and intricacies of human trafficking, a crime that often remains hidden in plain sight.
A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean 65
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