293 Women Involved in Sex Trafficking Rescued in Peru
 |
October 5, 2011 TheFreshOutlook  |
293 women were freed during a three-day operation led by Peruvian authorities between September 30 and Sunday October 2 2011.
About 300 women were rescued during a three-day sex trafficking rescue operation coordinated by the authorities in the south-eastern Peruvian region, Madre de Dios.
During the operation 60 brothels were freed by 450 police officers and 16 prosecutors, according to the Peruvian newspaper, La Republica.
According to the deputy minister for Interior Order, Luis Alberto Otarola, some of the girls saved were between 12 and 13 years old.
Peru is considered the country of origin, transit and destination of human trafficking, with Peruvian women being sent to other countries for sexual exploitation, according to The Human Trafficking Project, an online network which aims to raise awareness of modern day slavery.
In 2007 the National Plan of Action against Human Trafficking 2007-2013 came into effect, promoting the implementation of a new law against human trafficking and offering assistance to victims through a telephone help line. According to The Human Trafficking Project, over 8,000 calls had been registered between March 2006 and 2007.
“The recent rescue of nearly 300 women and girls prostituted in the Amazon in Peru highlights a tiny part of the huge commercial sex industry. Even the remotest parts of the world are not immune from those seeking to profit from women’s bodies. Sex trafficking is an enormously lucrative business which is driven by demand and more often than not victims have little recourse to help and justice,” said Anber Raz, Programme Officer at Equality Now London speaking exclusively to The Fresh Outlook.
“Equality Now is currently bringing a civil case in the United States on behalf of a number of girls from neighbouring Brazil who was sexually exploited by clients of a fishing tour company run by a US citizen. In order to address this global form of violence against women, there must be concerted efforts by all governments to tackle the causes of sex trafficking, including poverty, gender inequality and the demand for prostitution which fuels the trade,” Ms Raz added.
Working to tackle violence and discrimination against women and girls around the world, Equality Now is an international human rights charity which works with grassroots anti-trafficking women’s organisations around the world.
For more information, please www.equalitynow.org .
By Rosaria Sgueglia
[Image courtesy of Elijah]
