Trafficking in Persons: Challenge in the Americas Phillip Linderman Organization of American States October 12, 2005

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Trafficking in PersonsChallenge in the
AmericasPhillip LindermanOrganization of
American StatesOctober 12, 2005
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How well is Trafficking in Persons understood in
the Western Hemisphere?
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Mission of the OAS Anti-Trafficking in Persons
Unit

• Increase awareness and understanding
• Help build political consensus
• Provide training opportunities
• Provide better information

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Anti-Trafficking Training Seminars

• Argentina November 2004
• Belize April 2005
• Bolivia 2004-05
• Caribbean Countries 2004-05
• Peru April 2005
• Ecuador August 2005
• Venezuela January 2005

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Special OAS Projects

• HAITI Placement of an OAS advisor with the
  Haitian Police
• JAPAN Report on trafficking of Latin women from
  the region to Japan for the commercial sex trade
• EUROPE Coordination with Latin American source
  countries and Western European destination
  countries

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What is known about Trafficking in Persons in the
Hemisphere?

• Most victims are internally trafficked
• Cross-border trafficking is not always linked to
  U.S.-bound migration
• Victims are usually linked to clandestine
  activities
• Prostitution
• Migrant Smuggling
• Sweatshop and Agricultural labor

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Countries with Advanced Policies
Brazil Colombia Canada United States
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Estimates of Victims Annually

• 16,000 22,000 victims transported across
  borders within the Western Hemisphere
• 9,000 12,000 victims transported from the
  Western Hemisphere to Europe
• 5,000 8,000 victims transported from Europe to
  the Western Hemisphere
• 12,500 16,500 victims transported from Asia to
  the Western Hemisphere

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