“2013 Report- Lifting the veil on modern day slavery” launched ?In 2013, the Guyana Women Miners’ Organization (GWMO) rescued more than 20 women and children from human trafficking- a form of modern day slavery. Of that total, 19 were below the legal age of adulthood.Talented artistes re-enact the lives of trafficked victims in the interiorHuman trafficking is not a scourge only in Guyana but a worldwide challenge that fearless persons like members of the GWMO try to combat. And, indeed it is not an easy and inexpensive task to kill this US$32B industry.The GWMO with the assistance of the international community- United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – has been making significant strides locally to combat human trafficking.While GWMO’s efforts are concentrated in the hinterland, where the local mining sector has been expanding, the body has helped some victims on the coastland also.On Friday evening at the Pegasus Hotel, the GWMO celebrated its second anniversary with the launching of a navy blue ribbon to stop modern day slavery and the GWMO 2013 Report- “Lifting the veil on modern day slavery”.Those in attendance included US Ambassador to Guyana Brendt Hardt, British High Commissioner Andrew Ayre,Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys, Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Nicole Giles, UNDP Resident Representative Khadija Musa, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Robert Persaud; and APNU Member of Parliament Joseph Harmon.The work of the organization was applauded by the diplomatic community and pledges of continued support were made.Regarded as a brother to the GWMO, Ambassador Hardt said, “From a small group of women banded together to overcome challenges, the GWMO has become a recognized force not only nationally but also globally and promotes economic equality for women and combating human trafficking. Simona Broomes (President of the GWMO) was recognized this year by Secretary of State John Kerry as a global Trafficking In Persons hero along with five or six others worldwide.”Minister Persaud was also in high praises for the work of the GWMO. He noted that for many years, women in the mining sector were stereotyped and the GWMO was able to remove the stigma and show the true characteristics and uniqueness of women.Persaud, one of the first Government Ministers to acknowledge that human trafficking is a problem in the mining sector, said that the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) was instructed to work with the GWMO in this regard.He boasted that last year, Guyana recorded its highest gold declaration owing to the hard work of small and medium scale miners with women miners being a major contributor. While highlighting Government’s achievements and plans for the sector, he charged that the GWMO should also be wardens or soldiers in keeping the environment clean.Section of the gathering at the launching of GWMO’s 2013 Report- Lifting the veil on modern day slaverySimona Broomes, a miner for decades and founder of the GWMO, emphasized the harsh realities of the mining sector and the disrespect shown to women. Her sentiments did not paint a rosy picture.In fact,China Jersyes Cheap, in her usual forthright manner, Broomes told of the poor delivery of health care, lack of social conveniences, limited security for miners and the system’s failure to give victims of human trafficking, particularly children,NFL Jerseys China, a second chance.Many of the issues Broomes raised were highlighted by the organization on several occasions but to no avail.Responding to Persaud’s charge, Broomes informed the Minister that GWMO is already involved in environmentally friendly practices. She said members of GWMO would not only be wardens and soldiers of garbage but proud women standing in the mining sector in a better place than in 2013.Broomes emphasized that the GWMO wants to demonstrate environmentally friendly mining. The organization applied for an area to make their vision of doing their own explorations and women operating excavators in the ideal mining environment.She said that her organization is open to the idea of its members being hired by the GGMC to do backfilling and replanting of trees.Government had always boasted of the delivery of quality health care with the presence of health posts, cottage hospitals and regional hospitals. But, this is not the case in many mining communities where malaria, HIV, pregnancy and hypertension are realities.According to the TIP hero,Cheap Air Max, women in the mining sector are tired of going to empty or poorly equipped health posts.“We the women are saying we deserve to be treated better. And when we are there (in the interior) we are still in a part of Guyana…So we condemn to the highest level the