UN.GIFT Joint Programme to Combat and Reduce Trafficking in Persons on the Bolivian-Argentinean Border

15.11.2011 13:50

 

The Ministry of Justice of Bolivia, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime ( UNODC), the United Nations Children's Fund ( UNICEF) and the International Organization for Migration ( IOM) have officially launched the UN.GIFT Joint Programme to Combat and Reduce Trafficking in Persons on the Bolivian-Argentinean Border.

The official announcement took place on November 15 at a special event at the Ministry of Justice, with the participation of Ms. Nilda Copa, Minister of Justice, Mr. Cesar Guedes, Representative of UNODC, Mr. Marcoluigi Corsi, UNICEF Representative and Mr. Walter Arce, Head of Mission of IOM.

The programme aims to support the Government of Bolivia in reducing the number of trafficking crimes that occur on the Argentinean border. It takes a comprehensive approach that includes the prevention of trafficking crimes by raising awareness amongst the population about the risks and potential consequences for victims. The programme will also strengthen institutional capacities for improved border control systems.

Another area of ​​work of the program is to mitigate the impacts of trafficking, providing victims, as much as possible, with comprehensive care, including the restitution of their rights and their reintegration into society with dignity. Another component of the program is to strengthen the prosecution of  the crime. Those responsible for the administration of justice will be trained to identify trafficking crimes, investigate and prosecute offenders.

"We are very excited to see this programme take off. This Joint Programme is inter-agency cooperation at its best and we are convinced that working together is the only way to eliminate human trafficking," said Claudia Gioffre, UN.GIFT Joint Programme coordinator.

The Bolivia Joint Programme is one the six global programmes of this type developed under UN.GIFT. These comprehensive multi-stakeholder Joint Programmes cover different regions/thematic areas and respond to evidence-based analysis of gaps and priorities, identified by both the Field Offices of the UN.GIFT Steering Committee members and by country governments themselves.