Trafficking in Persons

 

The IDB started to address this emerging form of social violence and exploitation that specifically affects women and children in 2003, when it approved its first technical cooperation operation in the fight against trafficking in the region. In 2006 the Bank created a Task Force charged with producing an Action Plan to frame IDB's efforts in this area.

To date, the Bank has approved eight technical cooperation operations - three of them regional in scope - to combat trafficking in 10 countries. These include support to: (1) strengthening of justice systems to improve citizen protection or legal instruments to prosecute traffickers, (2) prevent people from becoming victims, (3) implement public education and awareness campaigns, (4) train public defenders, prosecutors and judges; and (5) broaden the regional debate on trafficking to reflect it in human rights, security and justice agendas, and to establish national strategies and appropriate public policies to combat this crime.

In addition, in collaboration with the Ricky Martin Foundation and the OIM, the IDB recently launched "Call and Live", a regional campaign against human trafficking that promotes hotlines for prevention and victim protection.