Keruv Institute explains the causes and challenges in tackling this crime
July 30th is World Day to Combat Trafficking in Persons. According to the United Nations (UN), more than 2 million people are victims of human trafficking every year, generating around 32 billion dollars worldwide.
Wilson Trezza, director of the Keruv Institute, explains that criminal activity is closely linked to social inequality: "Traffickers take advantage of poverty, vulnerability and lack of opportunities to deceive victims with false promises of employment and better living conditions abroad."
Sexual exploitation and forced labor are among the main purposes, but other crimes are also present, such as organ removal, illegal adoption and pedophilia. The challenges to curbing this crime are numerous, starting with the lack of accurate information such as underreporting of data, the success of criminal organizations at national and international level and the silencing of victims and their families.
"To combat human trafficking, intelligence, communication and collaboration are needed. The agility in passing on information is also essential to combat human trafficking. In Brazil, we have law 13.344/2016, which determines cooperation between national and foreign justice and security system bodies and the integration of policies and actions to repress crimes related to human trafficking, but society needs to act in prevention," explains Trezza.
How to prevent human trafficking?
The Keruv Institute provides guidance on what to do when you see signs of human trafficking:
Be wary of enchanting job offers. Promises of easy and lucrative money are strategies used by traffickers to persuade victims.
Read the employment contract carefully and research the company hiring you. If possible, ask the Public Defender's Office for help to analyze the contract. You should be extra careful if the offer includes national and international travel.
Be careful with personal documents. Avoid making copies and leaving them in the hands of friends or relatives.
Use social media wisely. They are used by criminals to gather information about victims.
Leave your address, telephone number and the location of the city you are traveling to and always communicate with family and friends.
Have addresses and contact details of consulates, NGOs and authorities in the region at hand.
Who can report human trafficking to?
The Human Rights Hotline (Dial 100) and the Women's Assistance Center (Dial 180) are channels for reporting cases of human trafficking, migrant smuggling and other similar crimes to the Brazilian authorities.
Learn about the Keruv Institute
The Keruv Institute is a social institution made up of a cohesive team that joins forces to work on preventing and reducing the disappearance of people in Brazil and abroad.
About Wilson Roberto Trezza
Wilson Trezza served as Secretary of Strategic Planning for the Presidency of the Republic. He was also a Consultant for the National Council of the Public Prosecutor's Office, Director-General of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (ABIN) between 2008 and 2016, Interim President and Director of Security for the Foundation of Employees of the Rio Grande do Sul Telecommunications Company (Fundação CRT), Director of Administration and Production for the National Fund for the Development of Education (FNDE/MEC). Trezza is currently the director of the Keruv Observatory.
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