The International Organization for Migration (IOM), with the support of the European Union, held in the province of Chiriquí a series of training and intervention workshops against the crime of trafficking in persons, aimed at promoting the strengthening of capacities and good practices of inter-institutional work for the identification and attention of cases in contexts of human mobility. 

The conferences, which were attended by more than 70 officials from public institutions, were held in collaboration with the National Commission Against Trafficking in Persons, with the aim of strengthening coordination with the directorates and specialized entities for the care and protection of refugees and migrants. 

Regarding the thematic framework, the threats that are generated due to organized crime in the issue of trafficking in persons and the legal framework applicable to this type of crime were presented and discussed, particularly the vision of national and international regulations, identification, and attention to victims, in addition to the tools that have been developed in Panama to improve the management of cases of trafficking in persons, among others. 

For Gonzalo Medina, IOM's Program and Project Officer in Panama, this type of conference strengthens the capacities of the communities and actors and allows us to overcome the challenges present around the issue of human trafficking and contribute to the eradication of this crime. 

In this regard, Dayra Campos, Secretary General of the National Commission Against Trafficking in Persons, stressed the importance of carrying out a training process for officials and institutions responsible for combating this crime, particularly in contexts of human mobility. These workshops undoubtedly contribute to the development of the National Plan Against Trafficking in Persons and related activities, such as Strategic Axis I, concerned with prevention, awareness, and which are contemplated as part of the 5 strategic axes of Executive Decree No. 303 of 2016. 

Regarding this mission, there was a dynamic information space in conjunction with the National Migration Service at the David International Fair where more than 100,000 thousand people participate annually. 

The activity, sponsored by the Project "Promoting Peaceful Coexistence in the Response to COVID-19", which is funded by the European Union through its Instrument for Stability and Peace (IcSP), and implemented through a multi-partner cooperation agreement with IOM and UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and Haiti includes within its actions, the prevention of human trafficking. The European Union and its strategic partners in Panama work closely with IOM and UNHCR to generate strategic alliances to strengthen livelihoods, peaceful coexistence. 

For more information, contact IOM Panama's communications team via iompanama@iom.int.