DOD Trains Latin American Officials in Human Trafficking Awareness

Officials from the Defense Department’s Combating Trafficking in Persons Office Host Information Session on Trafficking in Persons

On [DATE], officials from the Defense Department’s Combating Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) Office hosted an information session at the Pentagon. The session was attended by participants from Latin American nations who are part of the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). The participants have diverse occupations, including law enforcement, judicial duties, victim advocacy, and immigration officials.

Discussions on Identifying and Stopping Human Trafficking

The CTIP officials led discussions during the session, focusing on ways to identify and stop human trafficking. They also shared their training materials and resources related to combating human trafficking.

Marcela Jimenez, a program analyst with CTIP, highlighted the role of her office in training DOD personnel and contractors to identify trafficking victims, report suspicious behavior, and prevent human trafficking. She emphasized that the CTIP office receives reports on trafficking in persons incidents involving not only DOD personnel but also contractors from its extensive supply chain.

Specialized training is provided for acquisition personnel, investigative professionals, DOD school staff, judge advocates, chaplains, and healthcare professionals. These professionals often serve as the first point of contact for trafficking survivors.

Transparency and Accountability

Jimenez emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in combating human trafficking. She mentioned that the CTIP website regularly updates accounts of trafficking survivors, including those with a DOD nexus. The website features their photos, videos, and biographies.

Brenda Zurita, an intergovernmental affairs specialist with CTIP, explained that the office collects trafficking in persons incident reports from defense criminal investigative organizations worldwide. The case information is then reported to the Justice and State departments annually, as appropriate.

It is worth noting that all federal agencies have a CTIP office. The Defense Department’s office was established in 2007 and was the first federal agency to require CTIP training for its personnel.

Insights from IVLP Participants

During the information session, participants from the IVLP shared their perspectives and experiences related to combating human trafficking in their respective countries.

Francisca del Rocio Becerra Arevalo, a victim advocate from Ecuador, found the session helpful in learning about methods to identify victims and improve community outreach. She highlighted the prevalence of trafficking in Ecuador, particularly among the adolescent population.

Col. Anabel M. Cornielle Suero, a Dominican Republic National Police officer, expressed the value of the information from the session for her department, especially in terms of raising awareness. Currently, only law enforcement personnel directly involved in trafficking cases possess this knowledge. She aims to train the entire force, including beat cops, on trafficking awareness.

Manuel Alejandro Rodriguez Altamirano, a prosecutor from Tamaulipas State, Mexico, shared that his state serves as a transit point for many trafficked individuals. He hopes to utilize the information gained during the session to better educate the courts and law enforcement in his region.

IVLP Itinerary and DOD’s Efforts

The IVLP participants visited the State and Justice departments earlier this week and are currently visiting the Department of Homeland Security. Throughout the rest of the month, the group will travel to several cities in the United States to meet with law enforcement agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders involved in the fight against human trafficking.

This marks the fifth IVLP group focused on combating trafficking in persons that the Defense Department has hosted this year. Over 80 participants from around the world have learned about the extensive work DOD is doing to fight human trafficking.

Since 1940, the IVLP has hosted more than 225,000 participants for exchanges focused on various topics, including promoting women and youth leadership, increasing transparency and accountability in government, promoting cybersecurity, and combating transnational crime.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The article discusses the efforts of the Defense Department’s Combating Trafficking in Persons Office to combat human trafficking. Human trafficking is a violation of human rights and is connected to issues of gender inequality, forced labor, and exploitation, which are addressed by SDGs 5, 8, and 16.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres
• Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking
• Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children

The article mentions the efforts of the Defense Department’s Combating Trafficking in Persons Office to train personnel and contractors to identify trafficking victims, report suspicious behavior, and prevent human trafficking. These efforts align with the targets of SDGs 5.2, 8.7, and 16.2.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

No specific indicators are mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

The article focuses more on the activities and initiatives of the Defense Department’s Combating Trafficking in Persons Office rather than providing specific indicators for measuring progress towards the targets.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: defense.gov