Bogotá, Colombia 31 May 2019 - On 24 May 2014, as part of the actions under the framework of the strategy to prevent human trafficking #EsoEsCuento - #NotReal campaign, which is supported by the Global Action to address Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants (GLO.ACT), a forum on the achievements and challenges when addressing human trafficking at airports was held at the OPAIN VIP Lounge, located at El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá. Under the leadership of the Office of the Attorney General, and with representatives from the Ministry of the Interior, Migración Colombia Unit, the Colombian National Police, Avianca, Fundación Renacer, UNICEF and UNODC, this forum provided a space to reflect on the achievements and challenges as recognized by the different sectors involved in the fight against Trafficking in Persons (TIP).
During the forum, the campaign strategy was highlighted as an example of inter-institutional and intersectoral cooperation for the prevention of TIP, succeeding in convening national and territorial institutions, private enterprise, civil society organizations and international cooperation agencies. During the forum, John Karakatsianis, Director of Corporate Citizenship of Avianca said, "Today I applaud the commitment of all agents and similar collaborators who are involved with this campaign. With #EsoEsCuento we have found the formula to continue contributing to people's well-being." On his part, Mario Gomez, Deputy Prosecutor against violence against children and adolescents, called for international cooperation to continue strengthening the #EsoEsCuento campaign and take it to other spheres that "will allow us to impact and protect more citizens".
During the focum, the need to advance in the design of campaigns whose contents are based on real facts and figures, and that incorporate clear and forceful messages about the dynamics of the crime, was highlighted. Migración Colombia pointed out that one of the challenges that we must work on as a results of #EsoEsCuento, is to point out the importance of communicating the different purposes of human trafficking (TIP for sexual exploitation, TIP for forced labour, TIP for domestic servitude etc.) and to make the public aware that anyone can be a victim of this crime.
The campaign culminated its first phase in 2018 with a 166% increase in reports of cases in cities where it had been rolled out. Overall, the campaign reached 4500 students in 30 cities through prevention activities, approximately 600000 women who were traveling were informed about potential risks and 2800 officials received training on human trafficking, Andrea Gonzalez, Coordinator of the Contact Center of the Attorney General's Office explained that, "Thanks to #EsoEsCuento we have managed to strengthen the contact center of the Attorney General's Office, as an essential mechanism to position the hotlines to assist victims of human trafficking".
The forum concluded with the Office of the Attorney General, the Ministry of the Interior, UNODC and UNICEF, giving recognition to Avianca, Migración Colombia Unit, OPAIN S.A., Colombian National Police, the Contact Center of the Attorney General's Office and PAXZU Colombia digital marketing agency, for their commitment in the design and implementation of the first phase of the prevention strategy.
The Global Action to Prevent and Address Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants (GLO.ACT) is a four-year (2015-2019), €11 million joint initiative by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The project is being implemented in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). GLO.ACT aims to provide assistance to governmental authorities and civil society organizations across 13 strategically selected countries: Belarus, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Mali, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Pakistan, South Africa, Ukraine. GLO.ACT works with the 13 countries to plan and implement strategic national counter-trafficking and counter smuggling efforts through a prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnerships approach. It supports the development of more effective responses to trafficking and smuggling, including providing assistance to victims of trafficking and vulnerable migrants through the strengthening of identification, referral, and direct support mechanisms.
For more information, please contact:
Gilberto Zuleta Ibarra
Gilberto.zuleta@un.org
www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/glo-act/
glo.act@un.org
Twitter: @glo_act