Mexico City, February 28 (IPS) -In 2020, a historic presentation has been published in the Persons Report in Persons Report, an annual evaluation of human exploitation in 129 countries. For the first time, the world saw a 13% decrease in the number of victims. For those who fight against this terrible crime, the door of paradise seemed to open.
The reason was painfully clear. Unless people with power adjust another health crisis, we will never see such promising people again in the fight against sexual and labor exploitation.
The latest global report, which was released just a few weeks ago, confirms that Paradise’s doors are getting heavier. By 2022, the number of victims surged 22%. In sub -Saharan Africa, North America follows after the first place in the detection of victims. For the first time, the poorest and richest areas in the world share the same wounds. Human trafficking shows that nobody spare and eats both poor and privileged.
And it is becoming younger, not the number of rising victims. In 2019 and 2022, the number of victims of children increased 31%. Often, as in the case of human trafficking, girls and women have the worst results.
Transition
How do you explain this amazing expansion?
First, most governments lacked an emergency plan to support those who moved to Covid-19. At the end of the epidemic, thousands of people have already lost their jobs or homes. Many people were exploited by the despair faced with severe economic difficulties and professional shelters. Many people were forced to be forced to be two or three times, not two or three times due to violence in the community or other instability factors.
Second, the global analysis of the 942 court ruling showed a cold reality. 74%of human traffickers are organized crime networks. They are not lonely criminals, but cartels, gangs and mafia are operated by the efficiency of corporate or local governments, so it is almost impossible to dismantle. Only 26%of human traffickers act independently, such as parents or exploitation partners. Surprisingly, this is growing every year.
The number does not lie. When we think that our efforts calculate the results, reality reminds us that we must absorb them. This year we see all hands and minds to reopen the paradise door. If we fail, we can close the door forever.
Union against child trafficking
In response to this serious situation, the third international summit on trafficking was held in Washington DC in 2024, which was held in the two most important places for political and diplomatic behavior: the US Capitol and the major buildings of the US Organization (OAS). This summit gathered major legislators and global leaders who tried to eradicate trafficking.
One of the most notable participants was TOM HOMAN, a former ICE director and a major authority for border security. His existence emphasized the urgency of strengthening international cooperation. We celebrate that such a dedicated man is now appointed border Czar. His leadership and decision are important for trafficking hundreds of thousands of children from our border and closing the disappeared crime network.
Participation in HOMAN’s summit alleviated the border security expert panel thanks to Sara Carter, a famous investigation journalist. Her deep knowledge of the crisis of the US-Mexican border and her deeper knowledge of reporting provided important insights into discussions.
One of the most urgent problems at the summit was an amazing number of children who disappeared from the hands of traffickers along the US-Mexican border. For many years, the crime network has benefited from the suffering of tens of thousands of minors who have disappeared without traces using vulnerability in this area.
The recent US measures to strengthen border security provides the faint of hope. The measures to close the trafficking route and dismantle the operation of the crime are in the right direction. The highest priority for both the United States and Mexico should be clear. There may be no compromise regarding children.
Although the fight against trafficking is not over, such a summit reminds us that it is possible to change when the state, policymaker and civil society are united with common purposes. We cannot allow traffickers to keep hitting the door on their faces. The time to act is now.
IPS Un Bureau
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