Three young artists have been recognized by the Anti Trafficking in Persons Council (ATIPS) on Friday of last week, during a brief ceremony at the George Price Center for Peace and Development, where the winning logo was also unveiled.
First place winner was Keron Tzul, from the Centro Escolar Mexico Junior College, second place went to Cindy Acevedo from Belmopan Baptist High School and third place winner was Donovan Lisbey from Mopan Technical High School. Judith Alpuche, CEO in the Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation, and Poverty Alleviation handed both Keron Tzul and Cindy Acevedo a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 whilst Donovan Lisbey got a Moto E Global GSM 4G Phone.
The winning logo for ATIPS is a convergence of work done by both Keron Tzul and Cindy Acevedo, showing a figurine stretching a hand, where there exists both a sun and cloud with a Belize map alongside it. In Cindy Acevedo’s interpretation of the logo “…human trafficking has no regards to human life and aims to destroy the precious value of life.”
In her welcoming address, CEO Alpuche explained that the ATIPS committee has been around since 2006. ATIPS is now a multi-sector body that is legislated by law under the trafficking in persons’ prohibition act of 2013.
“Human trafficking is one of the worst violations of human rights, because it is at its core slavery…,” said Alpuche, adding that we do have Belizeans trafficking Belizeans.
While human trafficking at this time is not at burgeoning levels says Alpuche, “…the only way we can stamp out this scourge is if everybody puts their shoulder to the wheel.”
Alpuche took the opportunity to formally congratulate all three winners in the logo competition saying that the logo transmits an open emphatic view of the Council.
“It is a logo that will embody the spirit, that this [ATIPS] is an entity that has a heart for people,” she said.
ATIPS’ focal point Michelle Segura, in her vote of thanks, recognized the Anti Trafficking Persons Council Information, Education and Communication Committee for having visited schools across Belize, promoting the logo competition and spreading awareness “…on this grotesque crime against humanity.” Michelle Segura also thanked the Ministry of Education and District Education Managers in each District for their support in the logo competition.
Human trafficking occurs every year as countless men, women and children fall into the hands of traffickers around the World. By a definition from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Trafficking in Persons involves the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation under this definition shall include, at a minimum the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services or practices similar to slavery.
