Panama Drafts its National Plan against Human Trafficking

 
28 July, 2017

 

Panama City, Republic of Panama. On the 28th and 29th of June, the National Commission against Human Trafficking held a technical meeting to prepare a National Plan against Human Trafficking for 2017-2022, and to review the Action Protocol for the Unit for the Identification of and Assistance to Victims of Human Trafficking and the Model for the Identification of and Assistance to Victims of Human Trafficking.

The meeting, organized by the National Commission against Human Trafficking in conjunction with IOM as part of the Mesoamerica Program, was attended by the public institutions that make up the National Commission, including the Ministry of Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development, the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Health, the Judicial Branch, the Office of the Attorney General, the Ministry of Education, the National Women's Institute, the Ombudsman's Office, the National Immigration Service, the National Police, the Tourism Authority and the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama.

 

During the meeting, a technical sub-committee was established to prepare the final draft of the National Plan against Human Trafficking, which will be presented to the Board of Directors of the National Commission.

Additionally, IOM presented the Action Protocol for the Unit for the Identification of and Assistance to Victims of Human Trafficking and the Model for the Identification of and Assistance to the Victims of Human Trafficking, which were prepared by IOM and on which the participants provided recommendations. Both instruments are in still under review for submission to the Board of Directors for approval. The review process will be supported within the framework of the Mesoamerica Program.

Last year in the Americas, more than 8,800 victims of human trafficking were detected. Panama is a country of origin, transit and destination of victims, particularly with regard to sexual exploitation and forced labor. Preventative action thus remains a priority, particularly among younger populations.

Students from border areas learn about trafficking

As a prelude to the "World Day against Human Trafficking," youth from the border communities of the province of Chiriquí learned basic concepts related to the crime of trafficking in persons and some projection techniques and recommendations for entering competitions on making murals that contain messages on the issue.

The winners of the mural contest were announced on Friday, July 28th, during the official ceremony of the fifth "Binational Walk against Human Trafficking", organized by the Permanent Commission for the Protection and Assistance to Migrants in Conditions of Vulnerability (COPPAMI) in conjunction with IOM. It should be noted that a significant student representation participated in the walk alongside delegations from institutions in Panama and Costa Rica that make up COPPAMI.