Human trafficking in Latin America has evolved into a complex and diversified criminal activity, adapting to the region’s social and economic dynamics. To fight it, experts say the better use of data is key.
Human trafficking subjects victims to forced labor, sexual exploitation, or servitude through deception — often through false work or migration opportunities — coercion, or force. Unlike migrant smuggling — where there is a voluntary agreement to cross borders irregularly — human trafficking involves the victim’s loss of autonomy, keeping them under control for profit.
SEE ALSO: The Women Ensnared in Tren de Aragua’s Criminal Web in Peru
The 2024 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reveals that human trafficking has adapted rapidly, expanding into sectors such as agriculture, mining, and domestic work, in addition to sexual exploitation.
“Tackling this crime requires a combination of responses at all levels: global, regional, national, and sub-national levels,” the organization said in a press release.
The report highlights how criminal networks — ranging from small local groups to transnational organizations — have refined their recruitment and control methods, exploiting economic vulnerability and institutional weaknesses.
In response to this issue, the UNODC and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) developed the International Classification Framework for Administrative Data on Trafficking in Persons (IC-TIP). This framework aims to standardize data collection, identify key patterns, and improve coordination among governments, law enforcement, and victim support services.
To better understand the challenges and impact of this initiative, InSight Crime spoke with Dr. Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, a professor at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government and an authority on migration, illicit networks, and international security.
InSight Crime (IC): Do you think the UNODC initiative to improve data collection on human trafficking in Latin America will strengthen protection and justice efforts in the region?
Dr. Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera (GCC): Improving data collection and establishing a standardized database across different countries is essential. However, the effectiveness of this initiative depends on how that data is used. While the proposal is important, it is not enough. If judicial systems do not function properly or prosecutors fail to investigate thoroughly, the database will not reflect reality. Additionally, governments can manipulate or skew the information. The key lies in how the data is used to improve justice.
IC: What are the main challenges Latin American countries face in implementing these recommendations?
GCC: Financial limitations are a major obstacle. Many Latin American countries, particularly in the Global South, face economic crises and competing priorities such as drug trafficking and violence. Corruption and impunity also make organized crime data unreliable. Governments do not always allocate sufficient resources to this issue, and when they do, their responses are often driven more by political pressures than by the need to protect victims.
IC: Are there any countries in the region that serve as models for human trafficking data collection?
GCC: It is difficult to point to a single country as a model. Some, like Uruguay and Costa Rica, tend to have better indicators, but they face their own challenges. Overall, no Latin American country has managed to implement a robust and sustainable human trafficking data collection system. Political priorities shift with each administration, making it hard to maintain continuity in these initiatives.
SEE ALSO: Chile Struggles to Tackle Spike in Human Trafficking
IC: How can emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and Big Data, aid in the fight against human trafficking?
GCC: Artificial intelligence and Big Data can be valuable tools for analyzing communications between victims and traffickers, detecting recruitment patterns online, and improving data systematization. However, technology is not a silver bullet. Prosecutors and investigators must be properly trained to use these tools effectively. Additionally, safeguards must be in place to prevent the misuse of technology in ways that could lead to mass surveillance and human rights violations.
IC: How involved are major criminal groups in human trafficking?
GCC: Transnational criminal organizations view human trafficking as a revenue stream alongside drug trafficking and other illicit activities. Groups such as the Tren de Aragua or certain factions of Mexican organized crime have diversified their operations to include human trafficking, exploiting the vulnerabilities of migrant victims.
IC: How do political changes in the region affect the continuity of anti-trafficking efforts?
GCC: Government changes often bring shifts in security priorities. Some administrations emphasize human trafficking, while others sideline it in favor of more visible crimes, such as drug trafficking. The lack of policy continuity makes it difficult to sustain long-term efforts.
IC: What urgent measures should be taken to improve the situation?
GCC: A combination of immediate and structural actions is needed: increased funding for specialized prosecutors, better training for law enforcement, effective victim protection, and, above all, political will to tackle the problem at its root.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.