Peru, December 16, 2020. The UNODC, from its regional headquarters in Lima Peru and through the regional initiative Track4Tip, presents to the Peruvian judicial system its situation report on the crime of human trafficking in the context of mixed migratory flows. This document is the result of the systematization of information collected from key actors and statistical data, regarding the migrant population particularly, from Venezuela and their risk of victimization in trafficking in persons.
With the presence of Mr. Antonino De Leo, UNODC representative for Peru, Ecuador and Southern Cone, this event was opened. De Leo placed the audience in the indicators of human trafficking worldwide and how Peru is living this scourge, according to the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons. Worldwide, 72% of victims are women (girls and adults) (UNODC, 2018). However, in Peru, between 2019 and 2020, there has been a higher trend. It has been identified that, of the total number of victims assisted between these years, 87% have been women. On the other hand, with respect to the average age, it has been observed that, although in 2019 most of the victims of human trafficking assisted were over 18 years old: 59%, in 2020 the greatest number of cases assisted (55%) have been related to children and adolescents (under 17 years old).
Afterwards, Mr. John Tavenner, Consul General and Minister Counselor of the Embassy of the United States of America and Dr. Elvia Barrios Alvarado, Supreme Judge, President of the Gender Commission of the Judiciary and President-elect of the Judiciary for the years 2021-2022, took the floor, both agreeing on the importance of the presentation of the situation report, as well as on the need to strengthen the criminal justice response against human trafficking in Peru.
Next, Mr. Walter Hoflich, Coordinator of Track4Tip - UNODC/ PERU Chapter, presented the situational report of the crime of human trafficking in the context of mixed migratory flows, with emphasis on its findings, conclusions and recommendations.
In turn, Dr. Rosario López Wong, National Coordinator of the Prosecutor's Offices against human trafficking of the Public Ministry and Dr. Víctor Burgos Mariños, Superior Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of La Libertad, presented the developments and projections of the Public Ministry and the Judicial Power, respectively, to address human trafficking. Specifically, Dr. López Wong stated that she thought the recommendations of the Situation Report, several of which the Public Prosecutor's Office intended to follow, were appropriate.
This virtual event was attended by a total of 254 people, different figures of the Peruvian justice system, including prosecutors specialized in human trafficking, judges, officials of the victim and witness assistance units and civil society organizations.
The situational report presents various conclusions that raise the reality of this problem within Peru, such as
This document leaves some specific recommendations in writing:
About Us
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) provides technical assistance to Member States to strengthen their capacities to combat transnational organized crime, including trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, in its role as Technical Secretariat of the Conventions and Protocols on this matter.
TRACK4TIP is a three-year initiative (2019-2022), implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with the support of the United States Department of State TIP Office..
The project benefits eight countries in South America and the Caribbean with national and regional actions in Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Curaçao, and Aruba.
The general objective of the project is to improve the regional criminal justice response to human trafficking in the migratory flows of the beneficiary countries through a multidisciplinary and victim-centered approach, with actions at the regional and national levels to identify victims, increase prosecutions, and prevent the crime.
"This press release was made possible through support provided by the United States Department of State, under the terms of Award No. SSJTIP19CA0027. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Department of State."