CHALLENGES AND ADVANCES IN COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

NATIONAL POLICY n n n n In February 2013 the National Policy against Trafficking in Persons was launched nationwide, with a comprehensive approach against this crime, including the following themes: Prevention Protection Prosecution Inter-institutional coordination Cooperation Training Anti-corruption

DIRECT ACTIONS TO COMBAT ORGANIZED CRIME n n The Office of the Attorney General, together with the National Civil Police, has established innovative criteria in combating trafficking in persons through the concurrence of crimes against traffickers with sentences of up to 22 years and eight months imprisonment. By the end of December 2012, an exemplary sentence was imposed against a criminal organization that was operating in a department of El Salvador. All the members of the criminal organization were sentenced for the crime of trafficking in persons and related crimes.

Special Law against Trafficking in Persons in El Salvador A bill has been developed for a Special Law against Trafficking in Persons, with a comprehensive approach against trafficking in persons. The bill was developed at a multi-sectoral level and will be submitted to the Salvadoran Parliament in 2013.

MIGRATION ACTIONS n n n Developing a Guide for Psychosocial Assistance for returned migrants and victims of trafficking in persons, sponsored by IOM. This guide complements the Immigration Officer’s Guide for the detection and immediate assistance of victims. Designing a computer module to record cases of trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling at different borders with the aim of generating reliable statistics from the jurisdiction of DGME. Training of relevant staff as Child Protection Officers (OPIS), with a focus on immigration officers, to guarantee. Sixty-three immigration officers have been trained.

MIGRATION ACTIONS n n With financial support from IOM relevant equipment has been provided to the borders of Amatillo and Anguiatu to enable them to provide appropriate assistance to migrants in vulnerable situations and victims of trafficking in persons. 100 immigration officers have been trained on protection of migrants in vulnerable situations. 500 kits of personal items have been delivered to victims of trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling. The kits were identified for victims at various units and borders with higher migration flows. Talks have been given to mothers, fathers and caregivers of boys, girls and adolescents with the aim of discouraging irregular migration of boys, girls and adolescents accompanied by relatives or only by the guide or “coyote”. To date 298 fathers, mothers and caregivers of boys, girls and adolescents have participated in 36 talks.

PREVENTING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS n n n Actions to prevent trafficking in persons in El Salvador are aimed at providing information, making the crime visible and promoting denouncement. Thus, El Salvador has established a free and confidential information line (123) to invite the general public to report the crime. El Salvador is promoting a regional border campaign, financed by IADB and implemented by ECPAT Guatemala and designed to prevent trafficking in persons and identify potential cases of trafficking. In 2013 we launched a local initiative called “Municipios Libres de Trata de Personas” (Municipalities Free of Trafficking in Persons), which is expected to be disseminated and replicated by all departments of El Salvador joins a campaign against the worst forms of child labour, promoted by three Central American countries. Through civil society, El Salvador establishes its national chapter in the Observatorio Latinoamericano (Observatory on Latin America), called Observalatrata.