Panamanian girls between the ages of 6 and 17 were being sexually exploited in Panama, according to the National Commission against Trafficking in Persons, which revealed that 75% of the people rescued by this agency, including five minors, are related to cases of sexual exploitation.
The information shows that 25% were exploited at work.
The director of the National Commission Against Trafficking in Persons, Dayra Campos, pointed out of the total number of victims rescued, 39% are Panamanian, while 38% correspond to Colombian women, 8% Venezuelans, between men and women, and the remaining 15%. to Nicaraguan men.
In total, by 2022, 22 cases were evaluated to preliminarily identify possible victims, where six of them, by majority decision, were identified as non-victims because they were labor violations and a referential witness.
“During 2022, the operations “Luz de Esperanza”, “Galaxy” and “Marfil” were carried out in conjunction with the Security Forces and the Public Ministry, where 22 cases were attended to, of which 8 are fully identified as victims and 12 are are under investigation, Campos said.
Through a complaint filed with the Public Ministry, for the months of April, two adults of Colombian and Venezuelan nationality were rescued, as possible victims of human trafficking in the modality of labor exploitation. It should be clarified that the facts are isolated from each other.
In the “Operation Light of Hope”, carried out on February 3, 2022, five minors were identified. Of these, a six-year-old girl and a 10-year-old girl and three adolescents, two 13-year-olds and one 15-year-old. Three women are being detained, close relatives of the victims.
On August 14, “Operation Galaxy” took place. Six Colombian women, possible victims of human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, were rescued. Three men, two Colombians and one Italian, were arrested.
While “Operation Marfil” was carried out on September 13, three Colombian women were rescued, possible victims of the crime of human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation. A Colombian man remains in custody.
For the month of October, by ex officio complaint, a mother files a complaint since her daughter under 17 years of age was a victim of human trafficking in its modality of sexual exploitation in the province of Panama Oeste, La Chorrera.
Through the use of digital platforms in forums, webinars and face-to-face workshops, this office, together with the institutions that are part of the National Commission against Trafficking in Persons, trained 1,908 people, who make up the first line of detection of a possible victim of trafficking. crime of trafficking in persons, such as the National Police, National Border Service, National Aeronaval Service, National Immigration Service, Public Ministry, Judiciary, National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and Family, Ministry of Education, National Secretary for Disability, Ministry of Foreign Relations and Ministry of Health.
Flyer campaigns were held in provinces such as Panama, West Panama, Herrera, Los Santos and Chiriquí to raise awareness among the population. In those provinces, the media were also used to raise awareness about the detection and reporting of the crime of human trafficking.
Intense work was also done, focused on providing psychosocial assistance, legal advice, medical assistance, humanitarian aid, accommodation, educational and/or professional training to the victims of this scourge. In addition, individual therapy is and group acceptance-commitment, anxiety and depression, dictated to the survivors of this crime.
