Observing and Acting in Portugal

Information concerning the trafficking of human beings in Portugal can be consulted in the reports by Observatory on Trafficking in Human Beings, which is part of Portuguese Ministry of Internal Administration (http://www.otsh.mai.gov.pt). This observatory sets out to produce, collect, analise and disseminate information concerning the trafficking of human beings and other similar forms of violence.

This is a good starting point to gain insight on the recent evolution of the phenomena in Portugal.
The methodology adopted produces statistics according to the following types of victim: "Potential Identified Victims" and "Confirmed Victims". 

Just a general insight, in 2010, 35 Potential Victims were identified (30 females and 4 Males, 1 case was unknown). As for Confirmed Victims, 22 cases (8 females and 14 males)

How much aware are people in western countries of similar initiatives to fight human trafficking? 


 

Are we really aware of what is going on ?

The starting point of a discussion/debate about human trafficking has to be both a definition of what really is and what is not human trafficking and how much aware are we of this practice in our own societies. There are observatories and institutions dedicated to this phenomena. The US Trafficking in Persons Report (http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/) estimates that there are 12,5 million slaves in the world in 2011. Are you surprised by this number ? Did you expect it to by bigger or smaller?

Making this phenomena visible and more present in the perceptions of the world population is one of the goals of this blog.

What are we to discuss here ?

"The illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery"

Human trafficking, still very much alive and very much relevant. The main goal here is to share some thoughts and hopefully start a productive and enlightening debate concerning this subject which links all parts of the globe ... some provide and some are provided !