The Government’s deputy delegate in A Coruña, María Rivas, on the occasion of the International Day against the Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking of Women and Children, reaffirmed the commitment to full and effective equality between women and men, recalling that this commitment implies, inescapably, the elimination of all forms of violence against women, girls and children and, especially, sexual exploitation and trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
This week the subdelegation of the Government in A Coruña develops a campaign through partner networks under the slogan A EXPLOITATION Es VIOLENCIA, #IstoéViolencia in collaboration with the entities of the sector ACCEM Coruña, Echoes of the South, Fiet, Red Cross A Coruña, Doctors of the World, Vagalume Program of Diocesan Caritas and Day Center O Mencer of the Oblatas and the Forces and Security Bodies of the State.
According to data from the Intelligence Center against Terrorism and Organized Crime, in 2023, 97.6% of victims of trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation are women and girls, which indicates the unquestionable gender dimension of trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation. In addition, there is frequent intersectional discrimination against migrant women and girls, which places them in a particularly vulnerable situation.
Rivas highlighted the work done in this area by the State Security Forces and Bodies that in 2023 rescued in our country 1,466 victims of crimes of trafficking and exploitation of human beings, 18 of those victims were minors. 409 investigations were carried out, resulting in the arrest of 923 people and the dismantling of 109 criminal groups or organizations.
Regarding the data of Galicia, Rivas recalled that in the field of prevention 95 administrative inspections were carried out, in which 430 people were detected in a situation of risk. In the area of trafficking, 19 victims were identified, and in the area of sexual exploitation there were 26, rescuing 24 more than in the previous year. Respect for arrests for crimes of sexual exploitation was recorded 8 in Galicia.
The subdelegate pointed out the broad normative framework that led to progress in consolidating the rights of women, especially victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking, which make our country a reference to international nival.
Thus it put into effect Law 1/2021, of 24 March, on urgent measures in the field of protection and assistance to the victims of gender violence, which declares as essential services the services of information, advice and reception; Organic Law 8/2021, of 4 June, on comprehensive protection of children and adolescents against violence, which guarantees the fundamental rights of girls and boys victims of any violence, such as trafficking in human beings, and forms a reinforced attention in the centers of protection for the prevention, early detection and intervention in cases of sexual exploitation and trafficking in human beings.
A mayor highlighted the approval of Royal Decree 664/2024, of 9 July, recognizes and regulates the right of victims to receive financial assistance when the status of victim of sexual violence is accredited; and also the Training and Integration Program with commitment to hiring for women victims of gender violence or trafficking and sexual exploitation, put in place by the SEPE within the framework of the Recovery Plan.
María Rivas stressed that with these measures the Government is once again showing its determination to continue moving towards the eradication of all forms of violence against women, girls and boys, and that it is therefore working on the promotion of the Preliminary Draft Comprehensive Organic Law against the Trafficking and Exploitation of Human Beings, which addresses all forms of trafficking and exploitation, which transcends the penitentiary response and also addresses it from the fields of prevention, awareness-raising and proper identification and assistance to victims.
The Institutional Declaration adopted by the Government expresses its strong commitment to gender equality, the rights of all women, girls and boys and the eradication of sexual exploitation and trafficking in human beings, and to the development of comprehensive measures that, through collaboration and cooperation among all administrations, institutions and specialized organizations, promote the prevention, care and recovery of victims of trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation from a human rights perspective.