The US Embassy Marks Human Trafficking Month by Recognizing the Work of The Bahamas Crisis Centre

NASSAU, Bahamas – In observance of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Month in the United States the U.S. Embassy’s Political Officer, Kyle Hatcher, visited the Bahamas Crisis Center on late last year to recognize the organization’s dedication to combating human trafficking in the region through a donation of a collection of books, DVD’s, and brochures. Mr. Hatcher also received an update on the Center’s recent community outreach efforts that were funded in part by a U.S. Embassy small grant.

“The key to bringing focus to human trafficking issues in The Bahamas is to get people talking about the subject,” said the Bahamas Crisis Center’s Director, Dr. Sandra Dean-Patterson. “And one way to do this is through education.”

Dr. Sandra Dean-Patterson and Economic Officer Kyle Hatcher.
Material donated by the U.S. Embassy will be used by the Center’s current volunteers and will be incorporated in the next Human Trafficking training workshop held in February. The donated books and DVDs will also be distributed to civic group that are actively working in local communities on New Providence and the Family Islands.

“In the United States, we use the month of January to rededicate ourselves to forging partnerships that strengthen global anti-trafficking efforts; which is why I visited the Bahamas Crisis Center today,” Mr. Hatcher remarked. “As President Obama emphasized in his 2012 proclamation, from forced labor and debt bondage to involuntary domestic servitude, human trafficking leaves no country untouched.”

U. S. President Barack Obama proclaimed January 2012 as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in recognition of the people, organizations, and government entities that are working to combat human trafficking. In his official proclamation, President Obama described the steps being taken by the Administration to develop a comprehensive strategy to combat human trafficking in the United States. He noted that through a coordinated response across U.S. Federal agencies, the U.S. government is working to protect victims of human trafficking with effective services and support, prosecute traffickers through consistent enforcement, and prevent human rights abuses by furthering public awareness and addressing the root causes of modern slavery.