In these situations, parents, relatives, or other care-givers receive in-kind or financial compensation or other benefited from a child engaging in sexual activities.
Information on the extent of human trafficking in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, however, was lacking, as the government conducted no related investigations, studies, or surveys.
Trafficking offenders could be prosecuted under relevant provisions in immigration, prostitution, or labor laws, though there were no such efforts reported over the last year.
Twenty-five officials attended two days of workshops conducted by the International Organization for Migration and an expert in trafficking law in March 2010.
Local prosecutors and police investigated the claims and determined the juveniles fabricated the allegations to escape prosecution for the drug-related offenses.
[1] The Vincentian government did not show tangible progress in ensuring that victims of trafficking are identified and provided access to necessary services.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines had no law or official procedures in place to ensure that victims would not be inappropriately incarcerated, fined, or otherwise penalized for unlawful offenses committed solely as a direct result of being trafficked.