IOM says no to human trafficking
14 May 2008 - In the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has joined forces with local artists to prevent human trafficking. UN Radio interviewed Eugenio Ambrosi, IOM Regional Representative for the Southern Cone, on the campaign "no to trafficking, no to modern slavery".
What does the initiative entail?
The campaign includes a series of radio and television programmes as well as graphic material that we developed last year thanks to the support of the US State Department. Our prime objective is to inform the population - particularly the youth and those at higher risk of falling victim to trafficking - on the mechanisms used by recruiters, and the risks involved. Essentially, we want to provide basic information so that people can be better prepared and avoid falling victim to traps set by the traffickers.
Why did you choose the province of Buenos Aires?
The Province has particular characteristics. Practically half the country's population lives here. We therefore find more problems here than in the rest of the country - including human trafficking related. Also, a recent study we carried out on trafficking for sexual exploitation, found that the province is an important origin, transit and destination centre for internal and international trafficking. Many Paraguayans, Bolivians and Dominicans find their way here and end up sexually exploited or forced into labour. These factors ultimately combined with a strong political will by the local authorities to fight this phenomenon.
Who are the traffickers and how do they operate?
It's difficult to say who the traffickers are. We're talking about criminal organizations that work in networks and take advantage of situations of vulnerability and marginalization. With deception and false promises of a job, they convince individuals to move to other areas of the country, or to other countries altogether. Here the victims are abused and, or exploited in different ways. Not only are their basic human rights violated, but their movements are restricted and their documents taken from them. They are completely controlled. They end up living in these conditions for a very long time until they eventually manage to escape or the police find them. Alternatively, they become 'useless' and are set free. These cases, however, are very rare.
The mechanisms are quite simple but very effective. It's a business that makes a lot of profit and requires minimal investment. For this reason, it's expanding worldwide. Here in South America too, we are witnessing a considerable increase in the phenomenon.
What is the main destination of victims trafficked abroad?
In the case of South America, we've primarily noted a large movement to Spain and Italy. Evidently, these are the 'entry points'. Once there, however, it's hard to know whether the victims stay or whether they are moved elsewhere.
