Country: Argentina

Innovation: In September 2001, I formed and worked with a group of 15 Dominicans that had been trafficked by the same person. Eight of them filed a complaint in an Argentine court. As a result of this, more attention was brought to the issue. In 2000, the local office of an international institution with a mandate on TIP did not want to tackle the general issue of the victims from the DR. After I tried for over two years and they kept denying their mandate, I contacted their representative in the DR directly. I acted aggressively and boldly, sending e-mails to their offices in Geneva, DC and the DR. I have tried to raise awareness by working directly with journalists.

Impact: In mid 04/2002 the Dominican government with the complicity of other institutions, tried to cover up the TIP issue of the Dominican mission in Argentina by passing it off as a simple issue of economic migrants wanting to return home after the economic crisis of 2001. They released an article stating that 25 Dominican immigrants suffering due to the crisis would be repatriated. I reacted by sending an open letter to a Dominican Congressman. This letter resulted in a scandal that was broadly covered by both the Dominican and the International press, further forcing institutions to focus on the issue. A Dominican diplomat in Buenos Aires was removed from his post after the scandal broke. The IOM office opened a return program in 05/2002.

Tipping Point: TIP issues can no longer be hidden in Argentina. Bureaucracy, complacency and complicity of institutions working TIP issues are the major gap to reach TIP victims with prevention, protection and prosecution of traffickers. It saddened me to witness some individuals, working to correct human trafficking, showing complacency and dishonesty in their jobs. I would like to see organizations more closely monitored. I feel that this is the only way we can move forward on this issue. Despite the barriers I encountered, I kept researching, monitoring and following up on the cases of victims who returned to the Dominican Republic. I will continue this work.

Replication: I hope to inspire other independent individuals like myself, to work at a hands-on, grassroots level, and emphasise the importance of direct contact with the press in order to draw attention to the cause and denounce corruption in order to help TIP victims.

I work directly with TIP victims and migrants from the DR. in Argentina. I have tried to raise awareness about the issue by working directly with journalists since 2000. The result of my work has been broadly covered and well documented by the press. I approached different institutions, influential individuals and friends by sending press articles published in Argentina and the Dominican Republic regarding trafficking and smuggling in general.

Sustainability: By involving and informing genuinely concerned and honest people and TIP victims - a one-man show is not sustainable in this arena. Each and every person working seriously in human trafficking in the US needs to push their Congress into action to ask for stronger monitoring of NGOs overseas, International Organizations and some officials at the State Department not carrying out their specific duties. I found this to be the biggest stumbling block in my effort. The US State Department finally has Argentina in its 2004 trafficking report, thanks to the hard work and commitment of a Foreign Service official who monitored the TIP issue. I am deeply grateful to this official for believing in my work and dedicating so much of her time.

Position in the Human Trafficking Mosaic of Solutions:

Factor: Corruption and Inadequate Government Policy

Principle: Ensuring Law for All