“For the first time in Argentina, a victim of human trafficking has received financial compensation from the State for the harm suffered she suffered,” said Marcelo Colombo, head of the country’s specialized prosecutor’s office for combating human trafficking.
The decision – based on a case that exposed a system of sexual exploitation operating in plain site – delivered a significant victory for survivors.
In Ushuaia, Argentina’s southernmost city, bars that appeared perfectly legal were concealing a darker reality. Behind their doors, women were exploited, controlled and trapped in cycles of debt.
The establishments had all the permits required by local authorities. Yet investigations revealed that several of these bars, known locally as whiskerias, were in fact functioning as brothels, despite brothels being illegal in Argentina.
“We litigated, together with the victim, against the municipality that had authorized these bars,” Marcelo explained. “They were disguised as legitimate businesses, but they were places of exploitation.”
The case reflected a broader regional pattern. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Global Report of Trafficking in Persons, most trafficking cases for sexual exploitation in South America occur indoors, in publicly accessible venues, such as bars and nightclubs.
“There were two well-known brothels in Ushuaia where women were effectively bought and sold,” Marcelo said.
Local authorities had even established a medical check-up system for the women working there, a system which helped normalize an illegal activity and allowed exploitation to continue openly.
Trafficking for sexual exploitation remains widespread across the region. In 2022, 40 per cent of all detected victims in South America were trafficked for this purpose. In Argentina alone, authorities identified around 400 victims that year.
The investigation uncovered a sophisticated system designed to recruit and control women.
“In this case, the trafficker’s partner initiated contact with the victims,” explained Marcelo. “Women are often used in recruitment because they are seen as more approachable and trustworthy.”
Many women involved in trafficking operations have themselves experienced exploitation. Often under the control of male partners, they may have limited autonomy and perform restricted roles within criminal networks.
Once recruited, victims were subjected to various forms of coercion.
“Many women were pressured through debts they could never realistically repay,” explained Marcelo. “Some women from the Dominican Republic were even allowed to return home for short periods, only to be brought back under the pretext that they still owed money. It was a form of coercive control.”
The case moved forward thanks largely to the determination of one woman: Alika Kinan, who had decided to challenge not only the traffickers but also the system that had enable them.
Marcelo travelled to Ushuaia to work closely with her. Together, they achieved a landmark outcome.
“We secured convictions against the traffickers and, for the first time, held the Argentine State accountable for facilitating environments where exploitation could flourish,” Marcelo said.
The impact went far beyond a single courtroom victory. Following the ruling, openly operating brothels across the country were shut down and authorities introduced new reporting mechanisms, including a dedicated hotline. The judgement also established an important precedent. “It opened the door for other women to seek compensation,” Marcelo affirmed.
Not everyone welcomed the decision. Some critics accused survivors of pursuing financial gain rather than justice.
“We had to engage with the media to defend them and explain the evidence,” Marcelo recalled. “It was important to show why compensation mattered.”
Cross-border cooperation with countries where some of the victims were from played a key role in advancing the investigation. “We exchanged vital information very quickly with prosecutors from the Red Iberoamericana de Fiscales Especializados en Trata de Personas y Tráfico Ilícito de Migrantes (REDTRAM),” said Marcelo, who has coordinated the network for more than a decade. .
Supported by UNODC, REDTRAM brings together prosecutors from 22 countries across Latin America, Spain, Portugal and Andorra. It helps authorities share intelligence, coordinate investigations and strengthen cooperation to combat human trafficking.
“Expanding this kind of cooperation globally is essential,” Marcelo says.
For Marcelo, however, the ultimate goal goes beyond prosecutions and convictions.
“Most trafficking vicitms come from highly vulnerable backgrounds,” he said. “Our work is about helping then regain trust in the justice system and ensuring they have a voice.”
Marcelo Colombo was one of the participants of the second International Forum of Prosecutors countering human trafficking and migrant smuggling, organized by UNODC with financial support from the European Union (EU) under the project: Promoting Action and Cooperation among Countries at Global Level against Trafficking in Human Beings and the Smuggling of Migrants (PACTS).
