The regional coordinator on the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime‘s (UNODC) project Human Trafficking and Migrants Trafficking, Lourdes Gutiérrez, pointed out that underage people are the «most affected» and the most vulnerable before this situation in Central America. She broadcasted this statement during Honduras‘ sign-up to the UN’s Blue Heart Campaign.
More protection for children.
Underage people are the most vulnerable group when it comes to human trafficking in Central America, and this is something people do not talk about, although it is considered the third most profitable illicit business in the world. According to experts, human trafficking needs more social awareness to eradicate it.
Also, children are the ones that do not report this kind of acts, this is the reason why some organizations have taken the lead to express what is happening. Lourdes Gutiérrez, UNODC’s coordinator, explained that human trafficking may occur in these scenarios:
- Within the family.
- Parents may exploit the children.
- Organized crime networks.
The most common form of human trafficking is sexual exploitation. However, there are some others among these:
- Working exploitation.
- Mendicancy.
- Illicit organ extraction.
- Sexual tourism.
The UNODC created the Blue Heart campaign trying to create awareness about human trafficking crimes in the region. Crimes where most of the victims are women and girls.
Honduras became part of the Blue Heart.
Honduras’ sign-up in the UNODC’s campaign is aiming to expose human trafficking crimes in all the possible ways and characteristics, as well as creating awareness on different sectors to achieve real consciousness about this crime.
During Honduras’ sing-up, Karla Cuevas, Minister of Human Rights in the country, was present. She declared that human trafficking is one of the most severe human rights violations and it is considered the new slavery, in the XXI century.
Honduras has rescued at least 194 victims of human trafficking during this year, according to the Interinstitutional Comision Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking’s report.
Blue Heart is a campaign created in 2008 —it means the victims’ desolation, the traffickers’ cold heart, and the United Nations’ color—, and its main objective is to prevent this crime, besides encouraging institutions and civil society, so they can denounce, inform, and sensibilize on this scourge, considered the third most profitable illicit business in the world.
