Thanks to the signing of a new cooperation agreement, IOM will
continue its support to the Colombian government in the fight
against trafficking in persons.

More than USD 440,000 from IOM, the Colombian Ministry of the
Interior and Justice, the European Union and the Integrated
Programme Against Gender Violence will serve to support government
strategies to prevent and combat trafficking.

The main objective of this accord is to support the local
authorities and to develop a national prevention plan. Initially 9
of 32 departments in the country will benefit, with the programme
expanding to ultimately serve 16 departments. Among the activities
that will be supported is the development of a national study to
assess the scope of trafficking issues and incidences in the
country.

Funding will also support continuation of the prevention
campaign "No Deal in Dealing in People", which provides information
through the mass media to boys, girls, men and women between the
ages of 12 and 35 around the country. The programme will also
provide training on this issue for journalists.

"These actions confirm why Colombia is recognized as the leading
country in the region in the prevention of this crime against
humanity. We in IOM hereby confirm our commitment against
trafficking in persons and through this agreement we will continue
supporting the efforts of the Colombian government," said
José Angel Oropeza, Chief of Mission of IOM Colombia.

The Ministry of the Interior and Justice of Colombia, Fabio
Valencia Cossio, emphasized the importance of the agreement and
stated that "It is an important agreement because this issue
involves the international community on the one hand but, on the
other hand it is something that requires coordination among
national, legal and social authorities in order to create
integrated strategies to deal with a complex issue, that has such
harmful effects on the social cohesion as well as the economy of
countries."

Since 2001 IOM has implemented a counter trafficking programme
in Colombia. Its main purpose is to address and combat this crime
through strategies of prevention, assistance, and support to
victims as well as support for public policies to combat
trafficking in persons.

For more information, please contact:

Jorge Gallo

IOM Bogotá

Tel: +57 1 6397777

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