Honduras Strengthens Mechanisms for Fighting Trafficking in Persons

 
13 June, 2018

 

Honduras. In order to strengthen mechanisms for preventing and prosecuting the crime of trafficking in persons, IOM—the United Nations' Migration Organization— supported the Local Committee of the Inter-Institutional Commission against Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons (CICECST), in the city of La Ceiba in northern Honduras to conduct a workshop for its members.

The Committee is responsible for promoting, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating efforts to eradicate trafficking in persons in Honduras. It includes public agencies such as the Secretariat of Health, the Municipal Women's Office, the Public Ministry, and the National Police, as well as civil society organizations such as Caritas and SOS Children's Villages and international cooperation agencies such as USAID.

The workshop improved the preparedness of nearly a hundred civil servants belonging to more than 40 institutions who work in the areas of prevention and assistance for victims of trafficking in persons, or in the judicial field.

"It is essential to raise awareness about the vulnerability of migrants--especially those who travel irregularly--to becoming victims of trafficking in persons. For this reason, it is necessary to provide comprehensive assistance and protection, focusing on human rights. This is achieved through coordinated effort, not individually, and so we are supporting the CICECST wholeheartedly in these kinds of activities", stated Jorge Peraza, Chief of Mission of IOM for El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

Trafficking in persons is the enslavement of human beings for different forms of exploitation, such as sexual and labor exploitation. Trafficking occurs when criminals lure and deceive people by means of false offers of studies, travel, and jobs with minimum requirements and promised benefits. These groups look to enslave people in sex work, factories, domestic service, and fishing, among other sectors.

This activity was carried out as part of the IOM's Mesoamerica Program, funded by the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration of the Department of State of the United States of America. The purpose of this program is to strengthen the abilities of governments and civil society organizations to promote regular, orderly, and safe migration, ensuring adequate protection for the most vulnerable migrants.

For more information, please contact IOM Honduras: Ismael Cruceta - icruceta@iom.int or IOM Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, Alba Amaya - aamaya@iom.int