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The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and El Dorado Airport join forces in the #YourLifeChanges campaign for a secure airport in the Fight Against Human Trafficking.

• Every July 30th, the day we commemorate the Fight Against Human Trafficking, we remember that this is a crime and a serious violation of human rights that can affect men, women, LGBTIQ+ individuals, children, and adolescents worldwide.
• Human trafficking is a phenomenon that intensifies in contexts of crisis, conflict, natural disasters, extreme poverty, among other factors.
• During 2022 and the current year of 2023, the Government Secretariat of Bogotá reports the entry of 78 individuals into the comprehensive care route for victims of human trafficking.

Bogotá, July 28, 2023 - With the firm purpose of protecting refugees, migrants, and citizens in Colombia from falling into the networks of human trafficking, El Dorado Airport joins the prevention strategy "Living Paintings," framed within the "Your Life Changes" campaign of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), implemented with the financial support of the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) of the United States Department of State.

"Your Life Changes" has promoted impactful strategies in public and high-traffic places, as well as in private settings, with the aim of raising awareness about the purposes of human trafficking and the recruitment methods used by traffickers to prevent and educate the population about the risks of human trafficking and provide tools on how to avoid becoming victims of this crime.

To achieve this goal, IOM has been conducting activations through the play-based pedagogical strategy "Living Paintings" in 13 cities across the country for the past year, reaching over 30,000 spectators with theatrical scenes. These micro-stories depict some of the purposes of the crime of human trafficking, such as organ trafficking, sexual exploitation, forced labor and services, and forced begging, among others. The objective is for the public to acquire key information, contribute to crime prevention, and learn about the guidance and reporting channels available for victims.

The presentations held at the Bogotá airport, where more than 36 million passengers transit each year, with a daily average of 100,000 people, featured the participation of three actors who portrayed short stories for eight hours to raise awareness among passengers about this issue. El Dorado Airport works in coordination with IOM, authorities, and civil society organizations to identify potential cases of human trafficking in these types of spaces, where prevention messages are also disseminated both inside and outside the airport terminal.

"Human trafficking is a crime that affects many communities worldwide, and as an airport, we have a responsibility to contribute and serve as a barrier against this form of exploitation. Our goal is to raise awareness, educate, and collaborate with authorities and organizations to prevent this terrible issue," emphasized Natalí Leal, General Manager of Opain.

Leal added, "This is why it is vital to have informative and awareness campaigns directed at travelers and the airport community. I invite you to join this cause by sharing relevant information and reporting any suspicious activity you may observe in our facilities. Together, we can make a difference and contribute to a safer and more just world for everyone. I sincerely appreciate your support and commitment to this important initiative we are dedicated to making the airport a safer place."

The "Living Paintings" strategy, within the framework of "Your Life Changes," has allies such as the Government Secretariat of Bogotá and the District Institute of Tourism of Bogotá, who are joining forces to combat this crime that violates the dignity and rights of individuals. Both entities have reiterated their commitment to continue working for refugees, migrants, survivors of human trafficking, and host communities, in order to ensure the restoration of their rights and to reduce the number of people victimized by this crime.

The Government Secretariat of Bogotá has a comprehensive care route for victims of human trafficking, providing orientation and psychosocial and legal support measures for alleged victims of the crime located in the city of Bogotá, through the appropriate and effective coordination of immediate assistance services for each specific case.

Information about the case can come from any source: family members, citizens, public entities, institutions, NGOs, international cooperation organizations, the victim themselves, or any other means, and should be sent to the email lucha.trata@gobiernobogota.gov.co and/or the District hotline 3002505050, where the case will be received based on the source and characteristics of the report.

The activity had the support and participation of the Secretariat of Security, Justice, and Coexistence, the Secretariat of Social Integration, the District Institute for the Protection of Childhood and Youth (IDIPRON), the District Institute of Tourism, the District Ombudsman's Office, the Attorney General's Office, Migration Colombia, and the Red Cross.

#YourLifeChanges