Human trafficking in Colombia

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The country of

illegal armed groups have been reported to forcibly recruit children to join their ranks; the government estimates thousands of children are exploited under such conditions. Members of gangs and organized criminal networks may force their relatives and acquaintances, and displaced persons – typically women and children – into conditions of forced prostitution and forced labor, including forced work in the illegal drug trade. Colombia is also a destination for foreign child sex tourists
, particularly in coastal cities such as Cartagena and Barranquilla. Migrants from South America, Africa, and China transit Colombia en route to the United States and Europe; some may fall victim to traffickers.

In December 2009

US diplomats state that almost every non-Latin American immigrant that was captured had transitioned through Ecuador. Since the investigations in December, concerns for Ecuador have been on the rise and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was to take action in February 2010 in a meeting in Abu-Dhabi.[3] Colombia has always been known for its drug smuggling into the US, and has now become a major hub for smuggling people from Africa and Asia into the US through Mexico; causing major security problems and possibly bringing in terrorists.[4]

Felipe Muñoz of Colombia’s domestic intelligence and immigration agency (DAS) reported that in 2009 more than 480 illegal immigrants were captured. Colombian officials arrested Ethiopian national Yohannes Elfneh Neguissie in connection with human trafficking. He was living in Colombia as a refugee and was receiving money from South Africa and the US in order to send immigrants via boat, or cheap flights to Mexico. He is said to have moved over 1,000 people through Colombia in 2009 alone.[4]

The

NGO's and international organizations. The significant number of Colombians trafficked abroad, however, reflects the need for increased prevention efforts and victim services.[5]

In February 2009, Colombia’s President Uribe stigmatized the general work of human rights defenders, accusing them to be working with the guerrilla. Through his statements, he showed direct disrespect for legitimate human rights organizations. On 2 March 2009, the Uribe Government accused the US Committee on Labour and Eduacation of being driven by political hatred. A national and international campaign began in September 2009, hoping to change the Government’s views on human rights defender. Over 270 human rights organizations have come together for the "Colombia: Human Rights Defenders Under Threat" campaign.[6]

The

U.S. State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons placed the country in "Tier 1" in 2017.[7]

Prosecution

The Government of Colombia increased its human trafficking

prosecutions, and achieved 14 convictions, sentencing trafficking offenders to periods of imprisonment ranging from 7 to 27 years. Such results compare to 159 investigations and 16 convictions reported for 2008. Investigations of labor trafficking increased dramatically over the reporting period: in 2009, there were 80 reports of potential forced labor offenses; whereas in 2008, there were two. The government maintained partnerships with foreign governments to repatriate trafficking victims and investigate trafficking cases in Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States. There were no corroborated reports of trafficking-related corruption during the reporting period and the government did not convict any officials for trafficking-related offenses. Public prosecutors received training on trafficking issues from an international organization.[5]

Protection

The government maintained victim protection efforts, both through direct provision of assistance and in partnership with NGOs and international organizations. The government did not appear to employ formal procedures for identifying trafficking victims among vulnerable populations within the country, such as displaced persons or women in prostitution. Authorities ran an interagency anti-trafficking operations center to refer victims to providers of protective services, as well as to coordinate and track criminal investigation and prosecution of their cases, and collect nationwide information and statistics about trafficking crimes. The government did not operate shelters dedicated to trafficking victims, but referred victims to local NGOs to provide these services. Authorities provided

temporary residence status to foreign trafficking victims, the government could provide trafficking victims with temporary permission to remain in the country on a case-by-case basis; these victims were eligible to receive humanitarian assistance from the government.[5]

Prevention

The government continued substantial prevention efforts against human trafficking. In partnership with international organizations, the government launched a new national trafficking prevention campaign targeting young, low-income Colombians, and concluded a campaign from the previous year; both campaigns included TV commercials, radio spots, and print ads. In collaboration with an international organization, the government also launched a pilot program to combat sex trafficking in two high-risk neighborhoods through public awareness events and training sessions for community leaders. Authorities trained 171 journalists in Medellin, Cartagena, and Cali to improve awareness and increase accurate media coverage of trafficking in persons issues. The

child labor through public awareness and training efforts, often in partnership with international organizations.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Will Colombia's Generous Attitude Toward Venezuelan Migrants Last?". 17 September 2019.
  2. ^ "2013 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor -Colombia-". Archived from the original on 2016-04-20. Retrieved 2015-02-01.
  3. ^ "Ecuador emerges as hub for international crime". DW.COM. 2010-02-02. Retrieved 2021-05-17.
  4. ^
    ISSN 0882-7729
    . Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  5. ^ a b c d "Trafficking in Persons Report 2010 Country Narratives -- Countries A Through F". US Department of State. 2010-06-17. Archived from the original on 2010-06-17. Retrieved 2023-02-11. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ "The Stigmatisation of Human Rights Defenders in Colombia". Peace Insight. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
  7. ^ "Trafficking in Persons Report 2017: Tier Placements". www.state.gov. Archived from the original on 2017-06-28. Retrieved 2017-12-01.
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