-
Who we are
WHO WE AREThe International Organization for Migration (IOM) is part of the United Nations System as the leading inter-governmental organization promoting since 1951 humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all, with 175 member states and a presence in 171 countries.
-
Our Work
Our WorkAs the leading inter-governmental organization promoting since 1951 humane and orderly migration, IOM plays a key role to support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through different areas of intervention that connect both humanitarian assistance and sustainable development.
What We Do
What We Do
Partnerships
Partnerships
Highlights
Highlights
- Where we work
-
Take Action
Take Action
Work with us
Work with us
Get involved
Get involved
- Data and Research
- 2030 Agenda
IOM and Ministry of Justice Hold First Human Trafficking Trial Competition in Ecuador
IOM counter-trafficking experts and officials of the Ministry of
Justice are this week holding the first human trafficking and human
rights trial competition for law students enrolled in public
universities.
The 40 participating students will litigate a case of human
trafficking and receive information on human trafficking in the
country. The winners of the two-day competition will
participate in the annual human rights trial competition at
American University in Washington, DC.
According to the National Police division specializing in
children and adolescents (DINAPEN, by its Spanish acronym), human
trafficking has increased by almost 1,000 per cent in the past four
years with numbers of reported cases jumping from 99 in 2005, to
882 in 2009.
"These numbers represent only those cases reported to the
police, because most victims of human trafficking do not want to
involve the authorities for fear of retaliation by traffickers
against them or their family members," says Rogelio Bernal,
IOM Chief of Mission in Ecuador.
Ecuador is a source, transit, and destination country for
persons trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and
forced labour. Many victims are children trafficked for
sexual exploitation and begging. Most of the victims
trafficked for sexual exploitation are young women aged between 16
and 17, while the vast majority of those trafficked for begging are
children between 6 and 10 years old.
Since 2005, IOM has been providing support to the Ecuadoran
government in its fight against human trafficking. The IOM
programme focuses on contributing to the implementation of the
government's National Plan to Combat Human Trafficking and Other
Forms of Violence, and to support efforts aimed at prevention,
protection and prosecution.
For more information please contact:
Ana Maria Guzman
IOM Quito
Tel: +593 225 67 89
E-mail:
"mailto:aguzman@iom.int">aguzman@iom.int