THE U.S. EMBASSY, THE UNITED NATIONS AND CINE CENTER SPONSORED A PRESENTATION OF THE FILM “HUMAN TRAFFICKING” IN SANTA CRUZ

The Embassy of the United States, through its Narcotics Affairs Division (NAS), the United Nations and Cine Center sponsored the presentation of the film “Human Trafficking” without charge on Monday, August 25.

The film reflects the reality of millions of women who, while striving to find a brighter future, end up trapped in the nightmare of prostitution. Although the film’s plot takes place in the United States, the problem of trafficking in persons is present all over the world.

This remarkable film was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and was directed by Christian Duguay. The film’s cast includes Donald Sutherland, Mira Sorvino, and Robert Carlyle.

The presentation  of the film sought to elevate the public’s awareness by showing that trafficking in persons is a crime that exists in all countries and in all societies, without exception, and that we all have to do our part to combat this scourge.

Through the characters’ personal stories, the viewers can approach the reality of the world of trafficking in persons and can acknowledge that effective measures to defend the defenseless victims of this crime are needed.

U.S. COOPERATION TO BOLIVIA

The U.S. Government has made a serious commitment to fight against trafficking in persons. To demonstrate its commitment, the United States provides technical and financial assistance to countries like Bolivia that are making significant efforts to fight this crime despite of limited resources.

To date, the U.S. Embassy in Bolivia, through its Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS), has sponsored the creation of four trafficking police units in La Paz, El Alto, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz.

ALARMING DATA

According to the U.S. Department of State, human trafficking affects approximately 800,000 people each year who are transported through international borders. 80% of the victims are young women and 50% of these victims are minors. The United Nations calculates that there are 12.3 million people worldwide living in conditions of forced labor, servitude, child labor, and sexual slavery. A large portion of this population is thought to be  victims of trafficking in persons.

Human trafficking is considered one of the fastest-growing crimes in the world. The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that at least 2.5 million men, women, and minors are victims of human traffickers worldwide. This crime generates profits of at least $31.7 billion per year.