UPR Sexual Rights Database

Mid Term Progress Report:
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago considers the growth in participation, promotion of equality and empowerment of women as critical factors in the achievement of its goal towards sustainable development. The following relate to the advances in women's rights as it relates to women's overall participation in national leadership and decision making:
- The Inter-Parliamentary Union's world classification of women elected to Parliament ranks T&T as 36th with a 28.6% representation in the House of Representatives and 19.4% of the appointed seats in the Senate as of 1 April 2014
- In local government, women account for an average of 32% of mayors, aldermen and local councilors.
- A 2009-2010 survey conducted by the Network of NGOs for the Advancement of Women, found that women comprised an average of 29% of members on boards and commission of all statutory bodies, state enterprises, special purpose companies, listed private companies, credit unions and trade unions.
- In 2014, the High Court has 13 female judges, while three women serve as Justices of the Court of Appeal roster with a view to increasing the number of Court of Appeal judges to address the increasing case load. The Magistracy is supported by 40 women of a total complement of 56 Magistrates, led by Trinidad and Tobago's first female Chief Magistrate.
- In 1955, there were only 12 female police officers. In 2012, this number has increased to 1700 women police officers. A woman acted as Commissioner of Police for the first time in March 2014. Several female Officers have been promoted to senior positions including one (1) Deputy Commissioner of Police and four (4) Assistant Commissioners of Police.
- All officers, female or male, have equal opportunities for training and promotions. In specialist units, women police officers participate in the same rigorous training and duties as their male counterparts.

National Report:
Para 6) On the 2 January 2013, the Trafficking in Persons Act, 2011 came into force by proclamation. The legislation has been described as comprehensive, adopting a victim centred approach and placing particular attention on women and children as in accordance with the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. The object of the Act is to prescribe measures to prevent and combat trafficking in persons including children, by:
(a) protecting and assisting victims of trafficking;
(b) facilitating the efficient investigation of cases of trafficking in persons;
(c) facilitating the prosecution of individuals and organizations involved in trafficking in persons; and
(d) promoting cooperation between Trinidad and Tobago and other States in order to prevent and suppress trafficking in persons and to punish offenders.
Para 7) The Act also establishes a Counter Trafficking Unit (CTU) which began operations in January 2013 together with the proclamation with the Act. The CTU has responsibility for the day-to-day counter-trafficking response of the Government and for specifically addressing all matters related to human trafficking, including investigating cases; screening and identifying victims; protecting and assisting victims, and raising public awareness about the crime and how to prevent it. The National Task Force for Counter Trafficking which is an inter-ministerial committee to which the CTU makes periodic reports on the progress of counter human trafficking effort in Trinidad and Tobago has been repopulated in 2016 under the new administration. A working group and steering committee have also been established to form a complete national mechanism to deal with the issue of human trafficking in Trinidad and Tobago.

UN Compilation:
Para 13) In January 2013, Trinidad and Tobago had adopted the 2011 Trafficking in Persons Act, which was intended to increase the number of perpetrators of trafficking who were prosecuted and to strengthen protection for victims of forced labour and sex trafficking.