On Monday the 18^th of October, 2021, Coordination Center on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Aruba (CMMA) together with Ketenmanager Manager Venezuela (KMVEN) organized a silent walk in commemoration of the European Day Against Human Trafficking and to shine a light on the topic.

The walk started at the end of Caya Betico Croes in Oranjestad and ended at Plaza Daniel Leo, where the Aruban Prime Minister Mrs. Evelyn Wever-Croes addressed the public and outed her wish to commemorate this day every year on Aruba as well. In that way we can stand still every year on the realities of this punishable offence, an offence that happens in Aruba as well.

Minister of Justice and Social Affairs Mr. Rocco Tjon addressed the crowd as well, where he emphasized that Aruba has a hotline at phone number 5923231, where anyone with information can get in touch and assist with any tips which may help the Ministry of Justice build cases and take actions against human traffickers and migrant smugglers.

After the crowd was addressed, an installation was revealed with the title “Take advantage now”, meant to shock the crowd. The installation resembled a doll box in which a person in construction clothes could be seen as if on display for sale. The installation alludes to the situations of victims of human trafficking in which people are bought and sold like an object.

There are people in Aruba who take advantage of another person’s vulnerable position. In construction and domestic work, there are people working without work permits who are overworked, underpaid, do not get off days or health insurance, and are otherwise inhumanely exploited because they are outside of the protection of labor laws.

In the case of illegal prostitution, exploitation sometimes takes shape in the form of “Loverboys” or “Romeos”. In other cases, people in situations of desperation work the streets without any protection or health and safety checks.

Open your eyes, because human trafficking happens closer than you think! For more information visit www.habribowowo.com
This campaign is paid for by CMMA and KMVEN