Human Trafficking in [The Bahamas] [other countries]
Street Children in [The Bahamas] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [The Bahamas] [other countries]
 

Prevalence, Abuse & Exploitation of Street Children

Commonwealth of the Bahamas [ Country-by-Country Reports ]

The Commonwealth of the Bahamas [map] is an independent nation situated in the Atlantic Ocean, consisting of hundreds of islands beginning approximately 50 mi off SE Florida and extending 600 mi SE, almost to Haiti. Its capital and principal city is Nassau, on New Providence island. It is a stable, developing nation with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Manufacturing and agriculture together contribute approximately a tenth of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives. Because of its geography, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments to the US, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US.

CAUTION:  The following links and accompanying text have been culled from the web to illuminate the situation in the Bahamas. Some of these links may lead to websites that present allegations that are unsubstantiated or even false.  No attempt has been made to validate their authenticity or to verify their content.

Quick Search for Missing Children - Select Gender, Country (Bahamas), and Years Missing

National Plan of Action

Bur of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor - Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005

CHILDREN - The government claimed child welfare and education were priorities but lacked sufficient funding to maintain and improve standards. Public schools lacked basic educational materials, and facilities were overcrowded and substandard. Public education is compulsory and free for children through the age of 16, and most children attended school until that age.

During the summer months, the RBPF operated a hot line in response to an increase in the number of reports of missing or exploited children.

The Ministry of Social Services is responsible for abandoned children up to 18 years of age but had very limited resources at its disposal. The government hospital housed eight abandoned children (all of whom had physical disabilities) during the year, as there was no effective foster care program in which to house them.

Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) - 2005

[53] The Committee notes with appreciation that the largest share of the national budget is allocated to education and that primary and secondary education is free in public schools for all children in the State party. It also notes that the PACE Program (Providing Access to Continued Education Program) ensures that pregnant teenagers are given an opportunity to complete their education. However, the Committee remains concerned at the dropout rates within the formal public education system, especially among boys.

[55] The Committee appreciates the progress made by the State party in addressing the issue of child labor, including the adoption of the Employment Act in 2001. However, the Committee is concerned at the relatively high prevalence of child labor in the State party and the insufficient protection from hazardous forms of work involving children between 14 and 18 years of age.

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Human Trafficking in [The Bahamas] [other countries]
Street Children in [The Bahamas] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [The Bahamas] [other countries]