In commemoration of September as the month of the fight against Trafficking in Persons, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Panama held the Cine Foro 2021, with the screening of the film Joy by the Austrian filmmaker Sudabeh Mortezai, which narrates the situation of illicit trafficking in persons, with special emphasis on women.  

The film narrates the situation that these women live, the aggressions, subjugation, and exploitation. It tells the story of the exploitation of Joy, a young Nigerian woman, in Vienna, Austria, who was forced to pay a debt to the person who arranged her transit to Europe. Among its distinctions, the film won in 2018 the Gold Star, the main prize of the Marrakech International Film Festival, and four awards at the Austrian Film Awards. 

After the screening, the panel of experts took place with the participation of José González, Circuit Prosecutor of the First Superior Prosecutor's Office Against Organized Crime; Lieutenant Carlos Cossio, of the Aliens Unit of the National Police; Dayan Corrales Morales, Protection Officer of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Johanna Aguirre Frías, Head of International Legal Advice and Lawyer of the Directorate of Legal Affairs and Treaties of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who served as moderator. 

The objective of this event was to raise awareness, sensitize, and prevent Trafficking in Persons, a phenomenon that affects all countries of the world, with a growing number of identified victims. Generally, it is related to social vulnerability, structural inequalities, and global challenges, which criminals take advantage of for economic gain. 

"What is Trafficking in Persons? Why is there talk of deception? Medium? Purposes? Where are the victims of trafficking? Panama began its month in commemoration against Trafficking in Persons, where they invite us to think about actions on prevention issues against this scourge. The forum invited us to reflect on the complexity of this crime, the multiple actors involved and, of course, the responsibility that we have as a society. In the 21st century, slaves don't wear chains or shackles, they are watched, they can live or walk next door," said IOM's Dayan Corrales. 

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