In a global context where human trafficking and smuggling of people are widespread issues, Aruba is not exempt from this reality, albeit on a smaller scale. Jeannette Richardson Baars, National Coordinator Against Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Men and Women, emphasizes the importance of raising awareness among the population about this serious issue, which also affects the Caribbean island.

In Aruba, a particularly vulnerable group to human trafficking includes construction workers, domestic employees, and sex workers. What is the reason behind this? Mainly, it is because a significant proportion of them are undocumented, placing them at a higher level of risk. Human trafficking ranges from third-party control to force individuals into unwanted actions to labor abuse characterized by inadequate wages.

Despite the existence of a legal prostitution system in Aruba, the Coordinator warns that in some cases, debts are generated that fall into the category of modern slavery.

Faced with this issue, what options do affected individuals have? In many cases, undocumented individuals may be afraid to speak up, but they have the possibility of seeking help anonymously from institutions responsible for protecting human rights on the island.

Additionally, Jeannette Richardson Baars reported that a campaign called ‘No Cay den Trampa’ is being developed, primarily targeting young people who spend a significant amount of time on their mobile devices. The goal of this initiative is to raise awareness about the risks they may encounter online and provide guidelines to protect themselves from potential deception and traps.

In this way, Aruba joins the international fight against human trafficking, emphasizing the importance of awareness and the protection of human rights as fundamental tools to address this issue affecting the global community.”