The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) defined joint lines of action for the fight against human trafficking in the current migration context in Peru, as well as for the protection, care and reintegration of victims. 

According to INEI data, during the first half of 2021, 277 complaints were registered for the crime of human trafficking in the country. At the national level, complaints for sexual exploitation reached 148, in addition to 78 accusations for labor exploitation. Of the total number of complaints, 222 involved female victims, 66.7% of whom were between 18 and 29 years of age, while another 52 (23.4%) involved minors.  

The proposed actions were the result of the work of the technical teams of both organizations, based on four axes: capacity building for operators who provide care to victims of human trafficking; technical assistance to State entities; strengthening case management; and information management through technological tools such as the creation of a virtual platform on human trafficking. 

The head of mission of the IOM in Peru, Jorge Baca, and the director of the ILO for the Andean Countries, Italo Cardona, agreed to strengthen the fight against human trafficking with coordinated work for the prevention of the crime and assistance to victims, between both organizations of the United Nations system. 

The COVID-19 pandemic and the mobility of refugees and migrants from Venezuela highlighted the situation of vulnerability of these people to crimes of this type. 

"To date, the number of migrants from Venezuela in Peru amounts to more than one million people, who face discrimination, xenophobia and lack of job opportunities, which increases their vulnerability. This alliance with the ILO will strengthen actions against the crime of human trafficking, which in the current situation of human mobility and COVID-19 has found new ways to capture the most vulnerable groups," said Jorge Baca. 

On his part, Ítalo Cardona, Director of the ILO Office for the Andean Countries, referred to the importance of the ILO-IOM alliance "to continue strengthening the Peruvian State's capacity to prevent, prosecute and condemn this crime, as well as to identify, protect, assist and reintegrate the victims". 

He also noted that it is "imperative to continue prioritizing the fight against this form of modern slavery, putting the victims at the center of the approach and considering that COVID-19 has aggravated the conditions of vulnerability of groups at risk, such as the migrant population, children and adolescents, due to the massive loss of jobs, the increase in informality, the reduction of income and the partial suspension of services to victims.