IOM and the Bureau of Judicial Investigations (OIJ) are today
launching a media and social network information campaign designed
to break the silence and deception allowing trafficking networks to
lure men, women and minors into sexual and labour exploitation.

The campaign's slogan, "Everything is not always what it seems",
will be seen and heard on posters, brochures, newspapers, radio and
television, as well as social media to raise awareness amongst
potential victims and the general public in Costa Rica.  The
campaign's messages also include information on the most common
recruitment methods used by traffickers, especially deceptive
advertising.

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According to Jorge Rojas Vargas, Director General of the OIJ,
"This is an excellent opportunity to prevent more people from
becoming victims of this crime and to guide and encourage those who
are already victims to file a formal complaint."

The toll-free number (800 8000 645), managed by the Centre for
Confidential Information (CICO), will provide information to
callers and gather data and other information to better address the
phenomenon.

IOM, which designed the campaign strategy, is working closely
with government and NGO partners to ensure the widest coverage and
impact impossible.

Data from the OIJ indicates that in 2010, 25 possible cases of
human trafficking were registered by the Unit alone (12 were labour
exploitation and 13 sexual exploitation), out of a total of 53
victims overall, (43 male and 10 female).  

So far this year, 11 cases are under investigation involving 19
victims. The main nationalities of the victims are Costa Rican,
Nicaraguan, and Salvadoran.

"Lack of information available to citizens on this crime
contributes to the continued success of trafficking networks. 
A population that has clear information about human trafficking and
the channels available to report it, becomes less vulnerable to
these networks," explains Luis Carlos Esquivel, IOM Chief of
Mission in Costa Rica.

 

The campaign is part of a two-year IOM project Profiling
Traffickers: A Resource for Police Investigation in Costa Rica,
funded by the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
(GTIP) of the US Department of State, which includes training law
enforcers, prosecutors and Ministry of Labour inspectors.

For more information please contact:

Ana Hidalgo

IOM San Jose

Tel: 2221 5348, Ext. 133

E-mail: "mailto:ahidalgo@iom.int">ahidalgo@iom.int

or visit: "http://www.notodoesloqueparece.com/" target="_blank" title=
"">http://www.notodoesloqueparece.com/