The UN registers a 67% increase in victims of trafficking in the country

The number of victims of human trafficking in Mexico increased 67.3% between 2020 and 2021, according to figures compiled by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

In its world report on trafficking in persons, UNODC specified that in 2020, based on data provided by the Ministry of the Interior (Segob), 1,316 victims of crime were recorded, while for 2021, the figure rose to 2,202.

These data include cases identified both by the country’s states and at the federal level by the Attorney General’s Office (FGR).

Among the modalities of exploitation identified by the multilateral organization, the increase in sexual exploitation stands out, which in the referred years went from 982 cases to 1,305 (32.8% more), which include both minor and adult victims.

According to the data, another modality in which the victims increased was forced begging, with an increase of 47%, going from 59 to 87 victims; forced labor rose 175.3% with 231 cases in 2020 and 636 in 2021.

While other forms of exploitation in general went from 24 victims in 2020 to 150 in 2021, equivalent to an increase of 525 percent.

Regarding the number of investigations opened for the crime of human trafficking, in the same trend that the victims increased from 1,106 to 1,695, an increase of 53.2 percent.

convicted of crime

The figures in the report indicate that, in terms of convictions for human trafficking, there was also a growth in the figures.

For 2020, UNODC detailed that there were at least 75 cases of people convicted of the crime, while for 2021 there were 128 cases, equivalent to an increase of 70.6 percent.

Panorama global

The organization’s report states that globally the figures for human trafficking fell 11% in 2020 compared to the previous year. The foregoing by noting that the Covid-19 pandemic caused less action by human traffickers, although it also detailed that it caused less prosecution of the crime by the authorities.

“This latest report shows how the pandemic has increased vulnerability to human trafficking, further diminishing the ability to rescue victims and bring offenders to justice,” said Ghada Waly, UNODC Executive Director.

He added that “we cannot allow crises to aggravate exploitation. The United Nations and the donor community need to support national authorities, especially in developing countries, to respond to threats of trafficking, and to identify and protect victims, especially in states of emergency.”

The report states that convictions for human trafficking decreased globally in 2020 compared to the previous year, 27 percent.

The highest conviction deaths occurred in South Asia (56%), Central America and the Caribbean (54%), and South America (46%).

In general terms, the way in which victims are saved from trafficking is on their own feet, since 41% of the victims of trafficking who escaped from their perpetrators did so on their own, while another 28% were rescued by the authorities. and another 11% from the community.

In addition to the fact that another 10% was rescued by initial action on the part of the victim’s family; 9% initial action by other institutions or civil society and 1% for other actions.

Regarding convictions, UNODC indicated that there was a global reduction of 27% compared to 2019. This figure has been decreasing since 2017, according to the document.

politica@eleconomista.mx