Human trafficking experts address digital exploitation risks

Specialized conferences in Argentina and Spain have addressed the evolving methods of human trafficking, with a particular focus on the risks posed by digital environments.

In Jujuy, Argentina, officials and specialists gathered to analyze how social media, gaming platforms, and messaging apps are being used to deceive children and adolescents for sexual and labor exploitation. Gustavo Vera of the Fundación Alameda proposed making ‘Digital Citizenship’ a mandatory subject in primary and secondary schools to help students identify fake profiles and deceptive offers. The session also highlighted risks related to drug trafficking, forced begging, and debt bondage.

At the University of La Laguna, a conference focused on the exploitation of women for sexual purposes. The event emphasized the role of academic institutions in researching social problems and the need for better institutional coordination to protect victims. Survivor Amelia Tiganus shared her personal testimony to advocate for the inclusion of survivors' voices in public policy, highlighting the social and psychological mechanisms that facilitate exploitation.