September 5, 2016
There are about 20 million victims of human trafficking worldwide, including men, women, children and the elderly. Many victims come from different social strata and are forced into sexual exploitation, domestic service in slavery, and even forced labor.
Trafficking victims are everywhere; for this reason, the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic is committed to working with the Dominican government to identify the transnational criminal organizations of human trafficking operating in the Dominican Republic and within the region. In fact, special agents of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Attaché Office in the Dominican Republic work closely with Dominican law enforcement institutions to identify and dismantle these criminal networks. Last year alone, there were about 69 arrests linked to human trafficking in the Dominican Republic, leading to the rescue of 99 victims.
You can help identify victims of human trafficking in your community. There are some features and indicators that can help you be counted, such as: the person is disoriented or confused with signs of physical or mental abuse; the person is anxious, fearful or submissive in public; the person has no personal belongings or appears not to have a stable life; the person has restrictions the person seems to have a hard time spending time outside of his or her home, ) or have to constantly report to someone.
If you suspect someone is a victim of trafficking, please call anonymously, toll free 809-200-7393.
