Ombudsman sets up forum to raise awareness about human trafficking

Published at: 02/08/2025 11:43 AM

On the occasion of the commemoration of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, the Ombudsman, Alfredo Ruiz, installed the Forum on Advances, Challenges and Challenges in the Fight against Human Trafficking, aimed at raising awareness among institutions, public servants and all those present about the implications of this international crime that violates the human rights of victims and destroys families.

This event was staged at the headquarters of the National School of Public Defense, where its director, Rosimar González, was in charge of welcoming the Ombudsman, the Superintendent of the National Anti-Corruption Corps, attached to the Vice Presidency, Dr. Jhoana Ytriago, and the director of Human Rights of the Ministry of People's Power for Internal Relations, Justice and Paz, Pablo Fernández, and everyone present.

In this regard, González assured that this activity seeks to strengthen the knowledge already acquired to counteract this scourge that threatens people's human rights and improve care for victims, as well as coordinate actions for crime prevention.

In the first instance, defender Ruiz emphasized that human trafficking leaves lifelong consequences for the victim and their family, as it is a complex crime, planned and executed by organized crime, which is usually transnational. “In Venezuela, this type of practice increased due to economic blockades and unilateral coercive measures implemented by the United States, where children and our youth are the most affected. This permanent attack has prompted people to make the decision to leave the country without first corroborating all the misleading offers made to them by traffickers, mainly from Europe and North America,” he explained.

He also explained that recruitment is mostly carried out through social networks, so he invites parents and representatives to be alert to the content that their children view and, although anyone can be a victim, the majority are women and adolescents, captured for sexual exploitation or recruited by criminal gangs.

Finally, he noted that the Office of the Ombudsman is intensifying the provision of courses and workshops throughout the Venezuelan territory on the prevention of trafficking in persons, together with different State institutions, to prevent this crime from continuing to rise, as well as to provide the support and guidance that victims of trafficking require.

Mazo News Team/OMBUDSMAN'S OFFICE