Committee: SOCHUM
Country: Colombia
Topic: Human Trafficking
Delegate: Krish Saxena
School: Troy Athens High School
The extreme importance of human trafficking is currently at an all-time high, with cases
of forced prostitution and forced labor plaguing nations across the globe. Human trafficking is
defined as the practice of illegally transporting people from one country or area to another,
typically for the purposes of forced labor or sexual exploitation. In modern days, human
trafficking is dealt with differently across the globe, but one notion remains constant: human
trafficking must be stopped, and it must be stopped soon. Human traffickers worldwide are
utilizing people for commercial prostitution, illegal labor, and countless other derogatory
purposes. Human trafficking is simply modernized slavery, and if slavery was abolished
centuries ago, it should be abolished today as well.
Colombia, in particular, struggles with a high rate of female and child prostitution. Being
a popular destination and transit country, Colombia often sees women and children transported to
other areas for the use of prostitution in “sex tourism destinations.” In densely populated cities
such as Cartagena and Barranquilla, Colombian women and children are sent to essentially play
the role of a sex slave. Men are also trafficked for the purpose of forced labor, but less often.
Nonetheless, forced labor is still a pressing issue. Both of these victims are often of poor
socioeconomic status and live in rural areas. The Colombian government, however, has begun to
take an alarmed stance upon the issue of human trafficking in all forms. In recent years,
Colombia has opened discussion regarding human trafficking with many surrounding countries,
such as the United States, Argentina, Mexico, Nicaragua among others. This communication was
for the purpose of locating traffickers who may be moving from state to state. The number of
traffickers convicted and/or located has increased by more than 50% (250 in 2018 compared to
150 in 2008). The imprisonment rate is anywhere from 7 to 27 years in jail, depending on the
severity of the crime.
When in debate, the delegate of Colombia would love to see action being taken upon the
alarmingly high rate of forced prostitution in Latin American countries and would be in full
support of eliminating all sources of human trafficking and educating all citizens about how to be
safe around potential predators (hopefully across the globe). Additionally, the delegate would
prefer to discuss exactly how countries that lack funding can get assistance. The delegate hopes
to see a positive outcome after debating solutions, eventually leading to a healthy and safe planet.
- Krish Saxena
