2022 Trafficking in Persons Report: Colombia
Date of Publication
1-1-2022 12:00 AM
Security Theme
Human Rights
Keywords
Taffickers, Sex trafficking, foreign victims and domestic, Colombia, forced labor, human rights
Description
Over the past five years, Colombia has faced significant challenges with human trafficking, involving both domestic and foreign victims within its borders and Colombian victims abroad. Adult and child victims are exploited for sex and labor within Colombia and internationally, including destinations like Latin America, Asia, Europe, Israel, and Dubai. A striking number of trafficking cases involve fraudulent job offers, leading to exploitation, particularly in Turkey. Domestic trafficking is most prevalent in Bogotá and Antioquia Department. Groups most vulnerable to trafficking encompass displaced Venezuelans, LGBTQI+ individuals, Afro-Colombians, indigenous communities, individuals with disabilities, and residents in regions with a heavy presence of illegal armed groups and criminal networks. The alarming exploitation of Venezuelan migrants, highlighted by a report from an international NGO, underscores the regional severity of the issue. Sex trafficking remains a critical concern, with Colombian women, children, and transgender individuals exploited domestically and globally. Forced labor is another facet, with victims trapped in industries like mining, agriculture, begging, and domestic service. Illegal armed groups forcibly recruit children for combat, illicit crop cultivation, and sex trafficking, with entities such as ELN, Segunda Marquetalia, FARC-D, and Clan del Golfo operating in high-risk areas. The issue of "webcam modeling" has surged amidst the pandemic, often linked to sex trafficking, with women and girls coerced into live streaming sex acts. The industry's rapid growth has raised significant alarm among officials and organizations. The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated vulnerabilities, particularly among marginalized communities such as LGBTQI+ individuals, undocumented migrants, and indigenous populations, increasing the risk of trafficking. The situation is particularly dire for displaced Venezuelans and impoverished women and girls, who represent the majority of sex trafficking cases. The mass movement of migrants, especially in regions like Necoclí, presents heightened trafficking risks amidst challenging economic conditions.
2022 Trafficking in Persons Report: Colombia
Over the past five years, Colombia has faced significant challenges with human trafficking, involving both domestic and foreign victims within its borders and Colombian victims abroad. Adult and child victims are exploited for sex and labor within Colombia and internationally, including destinations like Latin America, Asia, Europe, Israel, and Dubai. A striking number of trafficking cases involve fraudulent job offers, leading to exploitation, particularly in Turkey. Domestic trafficking is most prevalent in Bogotá and Antioquia Department. Groups most vulnerable to trafficking encompass displaced Venezuelans, LGBTQI+ individuals, Afro-Colombians, indigenous communities, individuals with disabilities, and residents in regions with a heavy presence of illegal armed groups and criminal networks. The alarming exploitation of Venezuelan migrants, highlighted by a report from an international NGO, underscores the regional severity of the issue. Sex trafficking remains a critical concern, with Colombian women, children, and transgender individuals exploited domestically and globally. Forced labor is another facet, with victims trapped in industries like mining, agriculture, begging, and domestic service. Illegal armed groups forcibly recruit children for combat, illicit crop cultivation, and sex trafficking, with entities such as ELN, Segunda Marquetalia, FARC-D, and Clan del Golfo operating in high-risk areas. The issue of "webcam modeling" has surged amidst the pandemic, often linked to sex trafficking, with women and girls coerced into live streaming sex acts. The industry's rapid growth has raised significant alarm among officials and organizations. The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated vulnerabilities, particularly among marginalized communities such as LGBTQI+ individuals, undocumented migrants, and indigenous populations, increasing the risk of trafficking. The situation is particularly dire for displaced Venezuelans and impoverished women and girls, who represent the majority of sex trafficking cases. The mass movement of migrants, especially in regions like Necoclí, presents heightened trafficking risks amidst challenging economic conditions.
