WILLEMSTAD – The Secretary General (SG) of the Ministry of Justice held a meeting with a delegation consisting of representatives from PATH, the Police Corps, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and Judicial Care. During this meeting, the delegation provided a detailed report on a three-week work exchange program in Suriname, where they gathered valuable insights on how the justice system there handles cases of human trafficking and abuse. 

Experiences and Lessons from Suriname 

During their stay, the Curaçao delegation met with various justice and security institutions in Suriname, including authorities responsible for investigating and prosecuting human trafficking cases. The experience provided an international perspective on detection procedures, investigative techniques, and victim assistance strategies that could be implemented in a more integrated and efficient manner. 

Recommendations to Optimize Human Trafficking Management 

Based on the information shared, the delegation presented several recommendations that could be implemented in Curaçao to improve the handling of human trafficking and smuggling cases. These recommendations include: 

Enhancing inter-institutional cooperation to ensure a faster and more coordinated response between PATH, the Police Corps, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and protection organizations. 

Introducing standardized procedures for victim identification and management, inspired by Suriname’s model, which offers a more comprehensive approach to victim care. 

Strengthening training programs for professionals by providing specialized education to improve the detection and investigation of human trafficking cases. 

Optimizing databases to maintain a more complete and up-to-date record of human trafficking cases and trends in Curaçao. 

Reinforcing legislation and regulations to ensure that authorities have the necessary resources for the effective prosecution of those involved in human trafficking. 

The Ministry of Justice has acknowledged the value of this exchange and has expressed its commitment to working on these recommendations to achieve a more proactive and efficient approach to combating human trafficking in Curaçao.