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Meet the Coordination Center on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Aruba. In this short video, we explain what human trafficking and migrant smuggling is, what CMMA is and does, and how to reach us for information and assistance.
CMMA (Coördinatiecentrum Mensenhandel Mensensmokkel Aruba) is the central point of contact in Aruba on human trafficking and migrant smuggling. The 3 main goals are to inform, educate and assist in the fight against human trafficking and migrant smuggling. The CMMA has a tip line dedicated to human trafficking and migrant smuggling situations where people can call for more information and notify the authorities of suspicious activity.
After receiving a diploma from the Netherlands Police Academy in 1991, Jeannette Richardson Baars worked for several years with the police in The Hague (Netherlands). She left for Aruba in 1995 and held positions within the Aruba Police Force as Head of the Patrol Department, Head of the Department for Immigration Services, Chief of Staff, and currently as Director of the Aruba Police Academy. In 2005 she received her master’s degree in Political Science from the Liberal University Amsterdam (Netherlands) and in 2015 her master’s degree in Law at the University of Aruba.
In 2007 she was appointed Chair of the Human Trafficking and Smuggling Taskforce (TMMA) and in 2009 she became the National Coordinator on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling for Aruba (LCMM). She has been speaking nationally, regionally, and internationally on this subject for years and has been a regular speaker/trainer for Interpol and IOM. In 2020 the Coordination Center on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Aruba (CMMA) was created under her guidance, a government entity charged with Information (registration and research), Education (training and awareness) and Assistance (victim’s aid and multidisciplinary inspections).
Human trafficking and migrant smuggling is a growing and complex problem. Â Human trafficking and migrant smuggling often remain hidden and a good approach to this problem is therefore important. One of the ways to achieve this, is a good cooperation at all levels, both with government departments and with the humanitarian organizations on the island.
The National Coordinator on Human Trafficking Migrant Smuggling (LCMM) of Aruba therefore has a lot of contact with organizations that work in tackling human trafficking and migrant smuggling, but also with the media, politics, businesses and schools.
Based on these investigations and information from various sources, the LCMM advises  the government, agencies, services, international organizations and aid professionals on how to prevent and combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
a multidisciplinary advisory body formed by representatives of government entities with a role in migration, and The Coordination Center on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Aruba (CMMA) an organization charged with Information, Education and Assistance in the field of human trafficking and migrant smuggling, are managed by the LCMM.
To give others more insight into the problems on human trafficking and migrant smuggling, the CMMA regularly publishes news items and provides information through presentations and training courses.
The LCMM explains Aruba’s policy with regard on human trafficking and migrant smuggling on these forums. The LCMM is charged with writing the action plans, the (progress) reports, the project proposals and the administrative reports on the subject.
The coordination of assistance to victims of human trafficking has been placed by LCMM with the CMMA and is carried out by the CMMA in consultation with government departments, local foundations, and humanitarian organisations.
Various parties are involved in preventing, signalling, stopping and providing assistance in connection with human trafficking and migrant smuggling. Â All these parties must be convinced of the importance of combating human trafficking, what role they play in this and how they communicate with other parties to complete the approach.
such as foundations and humanitarian organisations. After all, a good approach does not only consist of setting the rules and monitoring them, but also including caring for victims and informing the public in order to prevent new victims.
How often does it happen? Who are the victims? Who are the perpetrators? How do perpetrators commit their crimes? How is migrant smuggling linked to human trafficking? These insights are necessary to create a good approach and to be able  to measure whether the approach really works.
The population must realise that this makes them guilty of migrant smuggling, with the risk that by their actions they enable the exploitation of another person (human trafficking).
A good approach to human trafficking and migrant smuggling is everyone’s responsibility!
CMMA regularly provides training and (tailor-made) information about human trafficking. For example, we provide training to investigative services, the financial sector, airport personnel, the labor inspectorate, emergency services and information to, for example, schools and the hospitality industry. Would you like more information about the possibilities? Please contact us
The Coordination Center on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling (CMMA) provides training for professionals who may encounter human trafficking and migrant smuggling in their work. It is possible to offer tailor-made training. Do you want to know more? Please contact us.
The Coordination Center on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling (CMMA) organizes general information sessions on human trafficking and migrant smuggling for the government, organizations, and the community. Do you want to know more? Please contact us.
The Coordination Center on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Aruba (CMMA) organizes webinars for the Caribbean region on human trafficking and migrant smuggling for all professionals. Do you want to know more? Please contact us.