Human trafficking is one of the most worrying problems today: this not only violates the human rights of victims, but it also has a traumatic repercussion on their physical and mental health.
According to the World Report on Human Trafficking presented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), more than 70 per cent of the victims are women and children.
In addition, this problem is the third source of income for transnational organized crime and is directly related to other crimes such as extortion, money laundering, corruption and drug trafficking.
In response to this and other issues and in order to eradicate them, the 2003 Palermo Protocol entered into force, an initiative of the United Nations.
This is a broader instrument for promoting international cooperation against transnational organized crime and proposes measures aimed at preventing, suppressing and punishing human trafficking, especially women and children.
Some of the specific measures promoted by the Protocol are:
• Assisting and protecting victims of human trafficking
• Prevent human trafficking with comprehensive multi-disciplinary programs
• Promote the exchange of information and training
• Strengthen border measures
• Control security in travel documents
Another of the initiatives by the United Nations is the Blue Heart campaign, supported by the Costa Rican government.
This campaign seeks to reduce the vulnerability of potential victims by making it easier for the population to find out about, know about and actively participate in crime prevention actions.
Likewise, it allows citizens, organizations and institutions to express their solidarity with the victims of human trafficking by using the blue heart symbol in their different social networks.
The heart specifically represents the sadness of the victims and recalls the insensitivity of those who buy and sell to other human beings. The blue color, which is the same blue used by the United Nations,demonstrates the commitment of this Organization to the fight against this crime.
Another goal of the campaign is to make known the “Blue Heart” as the international symbol of the fight against human trafficking and its use, promote collective awareness and prevent this scourge.