Rescue and Empower Sex Trafficking Victims

Hello you, colleagues of GlobalGiving!

Let’s update the hardest last months.

As you know, the COVID-19 has terrible social, economic and health consequences. These consequences are even worse for victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Due to the COVID-19, our labour increase during these months. Our services as the Mobile Unit and the reception of calls to the 24 hours helpline has been intensified, because of the emergency situations that the victims of trafficking are living, and in our work we have prioritized the attention of basic needs and protection due to the increase of violence to which these women are exposed.

The main actions APRAMP developed were:

Strengthen coordination with law enforcement agencies, to report clubs and places where women continue to be exploited during confinement and receive people who endanger the health and integrity of women victims. Also, places where trafficked persons were detected and told us about their exploitative situation and their increasing debt.

To coordinate with other entities and NGOs, as well as with Social Services and Health Centres to cover their basic needs.

Our team has not stopped looking for "invisible areas" where the demand from the perpetrators has increased. This search has been done through women we were already working with, on websites, the women themselves who were moved to other places.

We have noted that women have been moved to more rural areas where there is less police presence to continue exploiting them. Others have been forced to move themselves or to receive "trusted clients". There has also been an increase in the use of the internet for exploitation by webcam, and payment by bank transfer.

APRAMP has focused on ensuring the right to information for victims through its 24-hour telephone and mobile unit, in order to be able to respond to urgent and extreme need situations. When necessary, the police have been informed to ensure the identification of victims.