Today is the first day of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) new three-day Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative in Mexico. Mexico’s Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation and the National Guard are participating in this new annual awareness and outreach effort to educate commercial motor vehicle drivers, motor carriers, law enforcement officers and the general public about the crime of human trafficking, the signs to look for and what to do if you suspect someone is being trafficked.
According to the United Nations, human trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception with the aim of exploiting them for profit. Men, women and children of all ages and from all backgrounds can become victims of this crime, which occurs in every region of the world.
In the months leading up to this three-day awareness campaign, CVSA educated its membership, which includes Mexico, and the general public on human trafficking through webinars, radio appearances and online resources. Through a collaboration with the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation, Well of Life, Citizen Council for Security and Justice of Mexico City, and Truckers Against Trafficking, drivers and motor carriers were provided complimentary wallet cards and access to a Spanish-language educational video on human trafficking.
In addition, during the three-day outreach and awareness initiative, Mexican jurisdictions will track human trafficking awareness and outreach data and submit that data to the Alliance.
The Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative is a new educational effort involving all three countries of the Alliance – Canada, Mexico and the U.S. The U.S. Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative was on Jan. 11-13 and Canada’s initiative was Feb. 22-24.
“As the Alliance launches this new annual human trafficking awareness and outreach campaign, we’re pleased to have all three countries of this North American organization participate in the effort to eradicate the crime of human trafficking,” said CVSA President Capt. John Broers with the South Dakota Highway Patrol.
If you or someone you know is the victim of human trafficking, in Mexico, call 800 5533 000 or if you are in the U.S., call 888-373-7888. The hotline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
To find out more about Mexico’s Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative, contact the Citizen Council for Security and Justice of Mexico City.