30/07/2026 09:45 - Actualidad
The commemoration of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, every July 30, invites us to reflect on a complex crime that has evolved with technology. According to a warning from the Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Amy Pope, speaking from Geneva, criminal networks have found a new form of exploitation and forced labor in cyber scams.
The IOM detailed that criminal groups post fake job ads on social media, promising opportunities abroad. Upon arrival, victims are deprived of their liberty, their documents are confiscated, and they are forced to commit online fraud under threats and 'debt bondage'.
Pope noted that recruiters target people who 'speak very good English', often with university or postgraduate degrees. Victims from more than 80 countries have been documented. Between 2022 and 2025, the IOM assisted over 3,500 victims from nearly 40 nations.
In a recent blow, the Malaysian Police dismantled two scam centers in the state of Johor, arresting 335 people (309 Chinese citizens, 19 Indonesians, 4 Burmese, and 4 Malaysians) aged between 20 and 58.
The operation discovered they operated in 32 luxury properties, each assigned to victims from a specific country for cryptocurrency scams and fake investments. The UNODC estimates losses of up to 114 billion dollars in East Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
The international Catholic network Talitha Kum presented its 2025 Annual Report, showing encouraging results. They reached 1.21 million people worldwide, almost 30% more than the previous year. Of these, 928,000 participated in prevention actions, and more than 27,000 survivors received accompaniment, with a 72.4% increase in support for access to justice.
Sister Carmen Ugarte García emphasized that the organization’s strength lies in prevention. However, she warned of a 38% increase in child trafficking, including forced marriage and child labor. The nun cautioned that technology is now a primary tool for deception and control, urging young people to 'be suspicious' of offers that seem too good to be true.
'If not us, who? If not now, when?' Every child, young person, or family helped is a victory and a hope for humanity.
At the local level, the Government of the City of Buenos Aires has strengthened its commitment under the administration of Jorge Macri. In an opinion article, official Felicitas de Lasa stressed that combating trafficking requires sustained policies that articulate prevention, criminal prosecution, and restoration of rights.
In 2025, the Buenos Aires government promoted the Labor Reintegration Program for Victims of Human Trafficking, seeking to transform assistance into concrete opportunities for inclusion and autonomy. Additionally, through Decree No. 177/2026, the functioning of the Local Committee for the Fight against Trafficking was updated, incorporating new agencies to adapt to new criminal modalities and work hand in hand with universities and civil society organizations.
Assistance does not end with rescue. Restoring rights means accompanying physical and emotional recovery, guaranteeing access to justice, and creating conditions for each person to rebuild an autonomous life project, thus reducing vulnerabilities that favor new recruitment.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
