Chile - Two seminars aimed at training government officials in combating human smuggling and trafficking have been organized in Santiago, Chile.

Participants included representatives of the Ministries of Justice, Interior, Foreign Affairs and the Prosecutorial Service.  Speakers included IOM Senior Specialist in Assistance to Vulnerable Migrants Mathieu Luciano.

The first seminar, Smuggling of Migrants, took place at the Center of Justice in Santiago. It was attended by Chilean National Prosecutor Jorge Abbot, Deputy Ministry of Interior Mahmud Aleuy, Director of the National Institute for Human Rights Lorena Fries, and Director of the Jesuit Institute for Migrants Miguel Jaksik.

IOM Chile Chief of Mission Norberto Girón said: “Smuggling of migrants and human trafficking are crimes that must be fought. IOM Chile is supporting the government through the multi-sector round table on Human Trafficking and its coordination of the “Working Group against Human Trafficking.”

Luciano noted the importance of data to combat smuggling and trafficking. “Any existing migration policy has to be based on information, statistics and investigation in order to have the facts we need to fight against existing criminal networks,” he noted.

“The central tenet of migration management is that it has to be realistic, efficient and effective. Borders must not be seen as filters,” said National Prosecutor Abbott.

The second seminar, The Crime of Human Trafficking: Achievements and Challenges, took place at Chile’s Ministry of Interior, as part of an observance of the 5th anniversary of Chile’s classification of human trafficking as a crime.

Luciano pointed to global opportunities and challenges related to the protection of the victims, and highlighted the importance of training local authorities, including health workers, in dealing with possible victims. He also emphasized the importance of addressing the issue in terms of supply and demand to create holistic solutions.

For further information, please contact Sebastián Mathews at IOM Chile, Tel. + 56 2 296 33 710, Email: smathews@iom.int