From September 18 to 20, the city of Tabatinga, Amazonas (Brazil), hosted the Seminar on Combating Human Trafficking in the Colombia–Peru–Brazil Tri-border Region, a forum for training, reflection, and collaboration that brought together representatives from indigenous communities, social and church organizations, movements, and other actors committed to defending life and human dignity.
The event included participants affiliated with the three local Churches present in this cross-border region: the Apostolic Vicariate of San José del Amazonas (Peru), the Apostolic Vicariate of Leticia (Colombia), and the Diocese of Tabatinga (Brazil). Sisters Ana María Vilca and Rosario Casas, from the Kawsay Network, and Silvia, from the Bartolomé de las Casas Network, both from Peru, accompanied the process as advisors.
A Reality That Challenges the Triple Frontier
During the seminar, the main forms and purposes of human trafficking today were addressed, including labor and sexual exploitation, organ trafficking, illegal adoption, forced marriage, and forced begging.
The discussion began with fundamental concepts and definitions necessary for understanding this issue and progressed to an analysis of real-life cases shared by participants from their own communities and territories. These testimonies highlighted that human trafficking is a reality in the Tri-Border Region and requires coordinated responses among the three countries.
One of the key points emphasized was the use of social media and messaging apps as recruitment tools, particularly in situations of vulnerability affecting children, adolescents, young people, and women.
Participants also identified various factors that can increase these risk situations, such as poverty, unemployment, a lack of opportunities, educational and digital divides, alcohol and drug use, and difficulties in accessing effective protection mechanisms.
These conditions particularly affect indigenous and riverside communities as well as urban areas in the region, making it necessary to strengthen prevention, training, and support networks within the territories themselves.
Strengthening Coordination Among Colombia, Peru, and Brazil
The seminar provided a space for active participation, the exchange of experiences, and the collective development of proposals. Based on their shared realities, participants highlighted the need to strengthen the capacities of local communities and organizations to identify at-risk situations and promptly activate protection and care pathways.
One of the main commitments made is to consolidate coordination networks between Colombia, Peru, and Brazil, involving authorities, Indigenous communities, social and church-based organizations, and other local stakeholders.
Likewise, it was proposed to promote training programs aimed at families, youth, community leaders, and pastoral workers, with special attention to the risks associated with the digital environment and new forms of recruitment.
The meeting also called for the creation of safe spaces and opportunities for children and adolescents, as well as for strengthening protection mechanisms and support pathways within indigenous communities and local organizations.
“Preventing trafficking is protecting life”
As a result of the meeting, the participants signed a Declaration of the Seminar on Combating Human Trafficking in the Colombia–Peru–Brazil Tri-Border Region, through which they reaffirmed their commitment to the defense of life, dignity, and human rights.
The document calls on the authorities of the three countries to strengthen their presence, resources, and protection services in the Triple Frontier, promoting a coordinated and effective response to this issue.
From this Amazonian region, the commitment expressed by the participants is summed up in a shared conviction: “Preventing human trafficking means protecting life. Protection means acting in time”.
The Church and the organizations present in the Triple Frontier thus reaffirm their commitment to continue supporting communities through education, prevention, protection, and care, joining forces to build communities where every person can live with dignity and safety.
“Together we are stronger,” the participants concluded.