MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine poor legislation and corruption promote trafficking of persons, says UN

Most victims in Argentina come from neighboring countries and Dominican Republic

United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking of persons Joy Ngozi Ezeilo advised Argentine authorities that “an ‘urgent’ reform of the governing law for this crime, whose victims do not have protection or access to justice, is urgently needed”.

Joy Ezeilo this week ended her official visit to Argentina, very concerned about “increasing human trafficking in the country, which undoubtedly became a destination country for victims of this crime.”

She was also overwhelmed about the “impunity with which human trafficking takes place and the horrific abuse to the victims of this crime”, which in her view “has become a modern day case of slavery that brings enormous benefits to many undertakings”

In a press conference, Nigerian born Ezeilo exposed “the limitations of Argentine’s legislation in this area, the poor coordination of anti-trafficking of persons’ activities persons and the few resources for this work.”

She also warned about the “inadequate protection in Argentina for victims from the institutions involved in offering assistance and support to them”.

The UN official expressed her “particular concern about child trafficking in Argentina, especially for debt bondage and forced prostitution”.

Joy Ngozi Ezeilo also pointed out “there is little capacity to combat trafficking of persons and we must not forget corruption from police and other members of the security forces who are directly involved in implementing measures to combat this crime, especially at the provincial level, where they receive bribes and collaborate illegally with traffickers.”

She also pointed out that “labor inspectors do not have the necessary resources to combat persons’ trafficking for labor exploitation, which also increased, but is more undercover than sexual exploitation.”

Joy Ngozi Ezeilo who met with Argentine Minister of Justice, Security and Human Rights, Julio Alak suggested “increased cooperation with neighboring countries from which most of the victims came to Argentina, especially Bolivia, Paraguay and the Dominican Republic”.

“The Argentine government has to allocate more resources to combat trafficking and to implement a policy of ‘zero tolerance’ to corruption, to ensure that any agent involved in the crime of trafficking in persons must be prosecuted and severely punished”.

The United Nations launched this month a global action against trafficking of persons, with the purpose of strengthening the international combat against this crime which every year turns two million people into victims.