During this week's annual OAS General Assembly meeting, Diane
Ablonczy, Canadian Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas
and Consular Affairs), announced new funding for IOM to enhance
criminal investigation techniques and anti-human trafficking laws
respectively.

As part of a regional IOM project aimed at building governments'
capacity to provide protection and assistance to victims of human
trafficking in Central America, the Canadian funds will allow the
IOM mission in El Salvador to provide specialized expertise to the
Government of El Salvador as it formulates comprehensive
legislation to counter human trafficking and harmonizes existing
laws to ensure maximum effectiveness.

The IOM project works with the National Committee Against Human
Trafficking, which is part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but
also includes 18 other partners including government officials,
civil society and international organizations.

Due to its geographical location, El Salvador is a country of
origin, transit and destination for human trafficking. Although the
majority of victims, mostly young women, are trafficked inside the
country, they are also transported to neighbouring countries
including Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, but also Mexico and the
United States.

According to official fugures, between 2005 and 2010, a total of
319 cases of human trafficking were prosecuted; since the beginning
of this year, 33 sentences have been handed down.

In 2006, IOM set up a shelter for minor victims of trafficking,
which was handed over to the government in 2008 and is now managed
by the National Institute for Child and Adolescent Development

Working with the Attorney General's Office, IOM has also
provided training and financial support for victims to open small
businesses, including restaurants, fruit and juice stands,
bakeries, and beauty salons.IOM is leading the distribution of
non-food items to IDPs and so far, more than 68,225 persons have
been provided with plastic sheeting, blankets and kitchen
utensils.

The funding announced this week is provided by the Government of
Canada's Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program (ACCBP).

For further information, please contact:

Yulissa Guevara

IOM San Salvador

Tel: +503 2521 0527

Email: "mailto:pressiomsansalvador@iom.int">pressiomsansalvador@iom.int