October 18th is the National Day Against Human Trafficking. Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes emphasized that the Government is taking a strong stance on this issue to raise awareness in the community about how to combat this phenomenon.

Human trafficking is unfortunately something that can happen in Aruba as well, and any citizen who loves their country does not want this to occur. Due to our proximity to countries where there are conflicts, the risk to Aruba is even greater. ‘We love our country deeply, and we work hard to move this country forward, but some people who want to commit this crime are damaging us,’ expressed the Prime Minister.

Internationally, this crime can harm our economy and tourism, so it is crucial to stand against it on such an important date. Human trafficking, better known as modern slavery, is a violation of human rights, and it is everyone’s responsibility to combat it. The Government of Aruba, since the beginning of its administration, has paid significant attention to the issue of smuggling and human trafficking to combat this phenomenon and support the Coordination Center for Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Aruba (CMMA) in their work. ‘Everyone in life seeks improvement, but when you deceive someone, bring them from another country to exploit, abuse, and imprison them, it is against the law, and the Government of Aruba is committed to fighting this crime,’ emphasized the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister highlighted that every citizen of our country can help combat this issue. In this regard, the ‘Open Your Eyes’ campaign assists. This campaign alerts citizens to recognize the signs and helps combat human trafficking; people can report anything suspicious. ‘What we want is for this sweet Aruba to remain sweet for us, for our children, and for their children. In this sweet Aruba, there is no place for the crime of human trafficking. That’s why the Government of Aruba is committed to fighting this crime. We rely on every citizen of Aruba to help us in combating this crime,’ emphasized the Prime Minister.