Using information materials in Spanish, Portuguese and
Guaraní, the IOM Regional Office in Buenos Aires this week
launched an information and awareness-raising campaign covering the
tri-border area where Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay converge.



The shared tri-border area, which is bounded by Puerto
Iguazú, Argentina; Foz do Iguacu, Brazil; and Ciudad del
Este, Paraguay, is a hotspot where diverse criminal activities take
place. The area is known for its regular and irregular movements
through the porous borders, including the smuggling and trafficking
of human beings. Also, a considerable number of trucks transit
through the tri-border area daily.



Television and radio spots, posters and flyers will provide
victims, potential victims and the general public with information
on how victims are deceived, the security measures that must be
taken to avoid becoming a victim, and contact details where victims
can seek help in the three border cities.



The majority of the victims trafficked for sexual exploitation in
the region are young women from poor rural areas. They are lured
with false promises of jobs as waitresses or domestic helpers, and
are taken to small cities and towns



The recent IOM study covering Argentina, Chile and Uruguay and a
previous study carried out in Paraguay confirmed that human
trafficking is on the rise in the region. For copies of the
reports, please visit "http://www.oimconosur.org" target="_blank" title=
"">www.oimconosur.org.



According to a report by the International Labour Organization, in
Latin America and the Caribbean, some 100,000 persons fell victim
to human trafficking in 2006.



As part of another IOM’s counter-trafficking initiative in
the region, IOM has trained more than 2,000 law enforcement
officers in prevention, protection and prosecution. The trainings
are part of an ongoing capacity building project funded by the US
Department of State Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration.




The tri-border information campaign is funded by the US Department
of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
(G/TIP).



For further information, please contact



Cynthia Bendlin

IOM Buenos Aires

Tel +595 61 570099 or 9114 0654

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