UNODC joins the Week for Combating Trafficking in Persons

Brasilia, 30 July 2018 - The opening of the 5th Week of Combating Trafficking in Persons began this Monday (30), at the Interstate Highway of the Federal District. The event will take place from 30 July to 4 August and is promoted by the Federal District's Department of Justice and Citizenship (Sejus), in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the National Secretariat of Justice (SNJ) / MJ) and the District Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons.

The initiative aims to broaden the knowledge and mobilization of society and institutions to deal with trafficking in persons. In joining the UNODC's Blue Heart campaign and the commemoration of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons (30/7), the local government prepared this schedule  for the opening of the event.

UNODC's programme analyst and GLO.ACT coordinator in Brazil, Fernanda Fuentes, recalled that the biggest victims of this type of crime are the vulnerable populations that generally have less information and seek to improve the quality of life. Fernanda also pointed out that women and children are the main victims of this practice. The UNODC Report confirms the data by pointing out that 71% of people trafficked are girls and women.

Brazil and Colombia are the two Latin American countries that receive support from UNODC to address this practice through GLO.ACT. According to Fernanda Fuentes, one of the greatest challenges in the fight against human trafficking in the country is the regional diversity that ends up reflecting in the different objectives that the practice can adopt depending on the region in which it occurs.

"Human trafficking is fought in the network, both the government and civil society. Depending on where it occurs, there are different objectives prevail. In some regions, it is slave labor, in other, sexual exploitation. It is therefore important the participation of civil society organizations that can help combat crime within the local context", she said.

The Federal District, where awareness-raising actions take place throughout the week, is one of the preferred destinations for enticing internal human trafficking. Specialist in social assistance at the Center for Confronting Trafficking in Persons (NETP) of the DF Secretariat of Justice, Annie Carvalho, explained that Brasilia still appears as a promise of a great job offer.

According to her, the authorities are more attentive and therefore the number of denunciations is increasing. "That does not mean it has increased the type of crime, but it's showing up more," she stated.

GLO.ACT

Joint four-year initiative (2015-2019), involving the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). implemented in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), is part of a joint response to trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants and is to be implemented in 15 countries strategically selected in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.

Blue Heart Campaign

The Blue Heart Campaign aims to raise awareness about trafficking in persons and promote change to end this crime. The use of the United Nations' blue color also demonstrates the organization's commitment to the fight against this crime that undermines human dignity. Brazil joined the campaign in March 2013, pledging to promote the dissemination of information on the fight against trafficking in persons, disseminate good practices and promote their prevention.

We thank our UN Online Volunteer, Juliana Nogueira, for her contribution to the translation of this article.  Juliana is an online volunteer mobilised through www.onlinevolunteering.org.

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