Vienna (Austria) 5 December 2024 – Being a human trafficking and migrant smuggling prosecutor is not an easy job. It is a responsibility to seek justice for victims and hold perpetrators accountable.
This work involves carrying out investigations with law enforcement agencies to gather evidence, presenting arguments in court, cross-examining witnesses, deciding on the charges against the suspects and advocating for appropriate penalties and sentences.
To understand the challenges and the importance of this profession, we spoke with Alejandra Mangano, a Federal Prosecutor in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is also the coordinator of the Ibero-American network of specialized prosecutors on trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants (REDTRAM).
This week, Mangano joins prosecutors from nearly 60 countries in Vienna for the first-ever International Forum of Prosecutors countering human trafficking and migrant smuggling. Funded by the European Union (EU), the Forum seeks to strengthen global cooperation among prosecutors against these crimes.
“I have worked in the criminal justice system my entire life since I was 18,” Mangano shared. With over 15 years focusing on trafficking and smuggling cases, her portfolio includes sexual exploitation, forced labour and forced criminality – sometimes involving transnational organized criminal networks.
“Human trafficking and migrant smuggling are different but related crimes. Often, smuggling is the starting point, with migrants becoming victims of trafficking during their journey,” Mangano explained.
In Argentina, a country often used as a transit point for migrants travelling to North America from South America, Africa, Asia and other places, the risk of exploitation can be high.
“When someone leaves their home, they lose the safety net of family and friends. In an unfamiliar environment, these people can be highly vulnerable to exploitation,” she said.
Migrants can become trafficking victims when smugglers, for example, force them to repay their travel debts through labour or commercial sex.
But trafficking is not always tied to migration. UNODC research shows that it most commonly happens within national borders, driven by poverty, inequality, lack of job and education opportunities and other factors.
Traffickers exploit these vulnerabilities without regard for human life, rights or dignity. “For them, it is all about money,” Mangano said.
Prosecutorial work begins when a complaint is filed, often marking the start of a long, intricate investigation, and continues through the trial. According to Mangano, contact with the victim is one of the most crucial and delicate stages.
“Victims are often in extremely vulnerable situations. Many lack housing or money, which may have been the reason that led them into trafficking in the first place,” she explained.
During investigations, Mangano works closely with victim support organizations to ensure their needs are met. However, the interaction can be challenging.
“Victims may not recognize themselves as victims of crime, they may be afraid to testify or may change their story during the process,” she said.
“This is because traffickers actively work to obstruct justice. They use threats, violence or psychological manipulation to silence victims.”
In this context, it is crucial to rely on objective evidence, such as digital records and financial trails.
“These types of evidence help us uncover the full scope of the crime and trace the real organizers – not just lower-level players,” Mangano emphasized.
One of the most significant cases Mangano worked on was that of Alika Kinan, a trafficking survivor whose story brought the issue to the attention of the entire country.
Kinan was born into poverty in Cordoba. Her mother was a sex worker, so the girl had few opportunities in life.
At the age of 18, she was lured to Ushuaia, Argentina’s southernmost city, by people who owned a nightclub. There, Kinan endured more than a decade of sexual exploitation, physical violence and captivity.
In 2012, police rescued Kinan and six other victims. In what is now considered a historic case in Argentina, Kinan became the first woman in the country to sue her exploiters and the local authorities for failing to protect her. The court assigned her compensation and recognized her as a victim of trafficking. Her traffickers received prison sentences.
“Some victims in that case did not want to cooperate initially,” Mangano recalled. “It took time for them to recognize themselves as victims and feel safe enough to talk with the authorities.”
Today, Kinan is an anti-trafficking activist, university researcher and the founder of an organization that provides legal and psychological support to victims.
Human trafficking and migrant smuggling are rarely confined to one country. “There are cases where the victim is from one country, the perpetrators are from another, and the money is somewhere else entirely,” Mangano explained.
“That is why cooperation between prosecutors worldwide is essential.”
The International Forum of Prosecutors in Vienna aims to enhance this cooperation.
“This Forum will allow us to connect and create a global network of prosecutors. It is a critical step in the fight against human trafficking and migrant smuggling,” Mangano concluded.
The International Forum of Prosecutors countering human trafficking and migrant smuggling is taking place from 4 to 6 December.
The event is organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) with financial support from the EU under the project “Promoting Action and Cooperation among Countries at Global Level against Trafficking in Human Beings and the Smuggling of Migrants” (PACTS).
