Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence has urged Indigenous leaders to be more proactive in tackling the social ills that affect their communities and specifically Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and sexual abuse.
Lawrence was at the time responding to concerns raised by participants at the National Toshaos’ Council’s 10th annual conference over the prevalence of rape, sexual abuse and TIP in their respective villages.
The presentation by the Minister and her team revealed that there are a number of issues facing the Indigenous people that continue to gain the ministry’s attention, including the growing occurrence of incest and teenage pregnancy and TIP.
However, while Indigenous leaders were assured of the ministry’s capabilities in addressing such issues, they were also reminded that they too have roles to play.
According to Tenisha Williams, of the Ministry’s TIP Unit, the steady occurrence of trafficking of persons of indigenous descent has been a growing concern for the ministry.
