Jamaica has retained its tier 2 ranking on the U.S. Department of State’s 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report.

A tier 2 ranking means Jamaica does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. 

The U.S. Department of State Report published today noted that Jamaica’s government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period. 

These efforts included identifying and assisting significantly more victims, including more adult, male, and foreign victims. 

The report said government initiated more investigations and prosecutions of suspected traffickers and made progress in institutionalizing training for criminal justice officials and victim service providers. 

It also increased funding dedicated to victim services and opened six additional child-friendly spaces for interviewing and providing immediate assistance to child victims. 

However, the report noted that the Jamaican government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas. 

These included authorities prosecuting offenders under laws with lesser penalties, and offenders receiving insufficient punishment that did not involve significant terms of imprisonment. 

It noted that the government also decreased funding to the National Task Force against Trafficking in Persons, and did not approve a national policy to combat trafficking, drafted during the previous reporting period. 

The report added that the Jamaican government failed to endorse a prevalence research study completed during the reporting period, undermining efforts to build knowledge and awareness of the nature and scope of trafficking in the country.