The most recent Trafficking in Persons Report published by the U.S. State Department included the latest data on the human trafficking situation in El Salvador. The good news is that there are more efforts being made to combat trafficking as organized crime overall is being addressed through El Salvador’s war on gangs. The bad news is that even though El Salvador is taking steps in the right direction, the minimum standards for elimination of trafficking are not being fully met (TIP Report, 2024).
As in all countries, those who are vulnerable in society remain vulnerable to being targeted by traffickers. Many in our community remain at risk including those who struggle with poverty, substance abuse, a history of trauma, and are already in exploitative situations.
We are working in three main areas to both raise awareness among those who are vulnerable, and also to fight against this terrible evil that destroys souls and ruins lives. Those three areas include prevention, identification and reintegration.
The first area where we are focusing our efforts is in the area of PREVENTION. We work to raise awareness by educating those that are high risk. We have workshops in the Lighthouse Resource Center and in the New Dawn Residential Program where our staff share warning signs to help prevent those who are most vulnerable from being trafficked in the first place.
We also work to address issues like addictions, violence and homelessness to prevent our clients from finding themselves in situations where they could be become victims of human trafficking.
A second area where we are working is in the area of IDENTIFICATION. Often women and children connected with gangs, those dealing with homelessness, men and boys, and those already working in the commercial sex industry are overlooked as victims of trafficking. Our staff are trained to identify these members of our community who are particularly vulnerable.
Our programs include a screening process and our staff trainings included trauma-informed care as well as training in how to recognize markers of human trafficking even when someone doesn’t self-identify.
A final piece of our work to fight human trafficking in El Savador is our work in the are of REINTEGRATION. This is the long process of working with survivors of trafficking to help them find healing and a way to reintegrate back into their lives following the trauma of being exploited. We work to help them find healing through trauma therapy, group support, job training, spiritual care, and economic independence.
We have partnered for years with Free The Girls to provide jobs for survivors as they work to develop their own businesses, gain an education and find a way to work toward freedom in every way. The process of reintegration can take years and can also include addiction recovery, and intense trauma work but it is well worth all of the effort!
We are humbled and honored to walk with survivors and every January we shine a light on this issue. Human trafficking is a horrible evil and we want to see it end in El Salvador. In the meantime, we are committed to doing our part to prevent it, identify it, and walk with those who have survived it to reintegration and healing in every way.
