One year after launching a counter-trafficking project, IOM
Guatemala has assisted more than 65 victims of trafficking,
exceeding expected results by more than 20 victims.

Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and
Technology (MEXT), which is funding the programme, and IOM, are
co-hosting the symposium.

Guatemala is a country of origin, transit and destination for
victims of trafficking. Guatemalan children, adolescents, women and
men are trafficked for sexual or labour exploitation, illegal
adoption, child pornography and sex tourism. Networks of drug
traffickers, migrant smugglers and other criminals have made a
lucrative business of human trafficking Guatemalans and other
nationalities.

The IOM project, funded by the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID), and working in close cooperation
with “El Refugio de la Niñez” (The
Children’s Shelter), supported the establishment of a shelter
where girls and women victims of human trafficking receive
protection and assistance, as part of the project, which also
focuses on the human rights of victims of trafficking and their
reintegration.

The victims remain in the shelter between six and eight months
as they recovery physically and mentally from the experience. They
are eventually reintegrated with their families or a substitute
family.

Families receive support and are strengthened through the
Escuela para padres or school for parents, which focuses on
providing a healthy environment for the survivor.

Many of the persons assisted continue their education or receive
training in tailoring or baking, which allows them to obtain
financial resources for their families.

In August IOM provided training for 61 government officials and
NGO staff working with victims.

To strengthen prevention and prosecution of the crime, the
project also includes an awareness raising campaign, capacity
building for prosecutors and law enforcement personnel, as well as
a handbook on criminal proceedings.

IOM Guatemala recently signed a cooperation agreement with the
Association for the Elimination of Prostitution, Pornography, and
Sexual Tourism and Trafficking of Children and Adolescents (ECPAT
by its Spanish Acronym), aimed at working together to build the
capacity of all sectors involved in fighting human trafficking.

For further information, please contact:

Marina Palma

IOM Guatemala

Tel: +502.23.14.00.41

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