Experts and government officials from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil,
Chile, Paraguay and Peru have agreed to create a regional network
to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

The regional network would allow all countries in the region to
coordinate border activities in order to strengthen the fight
against human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

The gathering in Lima of more than 150 migration officials,
judges, law enforcement, and NGOs was held as part of an IOM
programme to research and gather much-needed statistics on human
trafficking and to build the governments' capacity in the Andean
Region.

The participants discussed the advances made in the judicial
aspects and in prosecution of traffickers. They also emphasized the
need to share information, increase cooperation in the border areas
and to establish protocols for the return and successful
reintegration of victims of trafficking.

The findings of a survey of 200 Bolivian women victims of
trafficking presented at the event confirmed that the average
female victim is 20 years old, with little or no formal education,
and the majority hail from the capital city of La Paz.

Bolivia is considered a country of origin, transit and
destination for human trafficking for sexual exploitation and
forced labour. Thousands of Bolivians are trafficked to Argentina
to work in sweat shops, where their travel documents are
confiscated and they are kept as virtual prisoners by
employers.

Bolivian authorities stated that they lack the resources to
manage migration flows at their borders and confirmed that many
Bolivian nationals do not have identity papers.

All countries participating in the two-day event are considered
countries of origin and transit for men women and children
trafficked for sexual exploitation and forced labour. They are all
on the "watch list" of the latest US State Department Trafficking
in Persons Report.

For further information contact:

Dolores Cortés

IOM Lima

Tel: +51 1 221 76 98

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

Oscar Sandoval

IOM Lima

Tel: +51 1 221 76 98

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