Ministries of Women and Labor in Peru Unite for the Economic Integration of Trafficking Survivors

LIMA (ILO News) – As part of the National Day Against Trafficking in Persons, 90 adolescent and young survivors of trafficking participated in the inaugural Fair of Services of the Employability Route. This initiative was promoted by the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations (MIMP) and the Ministry of Labor and Employment Promotion (MTPE), with technical assistance from the ILO.

The Fair of Services aims to provide adolescent and young survivors from INABIF's Shelters with firsthand information about the services offered by the MTPE. These services focus on labor intermediation and enhancing their skills for employment and entrepreneurship.

This Fair of Employment Services has really opened my eyes to what I can study and what I can achieve. I’m excited about the possibility of getting training, finding a job, and eventually specializing in gastronomy to open my own restaurant.

adolescent survivor of trafficking, 17 years old

Vice Minister of Employment Promotion and Job Training Jesús Baldeón Vásquez, and INABIF Executive Director Jéssica Ruiz emphasized the importance of the Employability Route. This inter-institutional collaboration seeks to ensure that adolescent girls have access to essential services that will help them secure decent work opportunities upon reaching adulthood, thereby reducing their vulnerability and risk of re-victimization..

At the MTPE, we are committed to intensifying our efforts to create opportunities that help these young women achieve their dreams. We understand that this journey is not easy, which is why we will be by their side every step of the way, offering the support they need to succeed.

Vice Minister of Employment Promotion and Job Training Jesús Baldeón Vásquez.

Among the services highlighted, several are particularly strategic for this population:

• Digital Services Laboratory: It enables young women to develop essential technological skills that are crucial in today’s job market.
• SOVIO (Career Counseling and Occupational Information Service): Designed to help participants identify their vocational interests and explore employment opportunities.
• Productive Youth: A comprehensive program that includes job training, skills certification, and self-employment training.
• ABE (Job Search Counseling): This service provides personalized guidance to enhance job search skills and overall employability.

The MIMP is dedicated to decentralizing and expanding this initiative across the country, focusing on regions with the highest incidence of trafficking in persons. Additionally, INABIF's Shelters staff are expected to help connect these and other MTPE services to the families of adolescent girls, enabling them to access better income-generating opportunities. By doing so, the family members, who serve as the primary support networks for these young women, will enhance their capacity for protection and support.

Through a coordinated effort with the Ministry of Labor and Employment Promotion, along with the invaluable support of the ILO, we are able to provide concrete solutions to the urgent needs of these young women. In addition to equipping them with tools to enter the labor market, we are creating opportunities that help restore their confidence, autonomy, and dignity.

said Jéssica Ruiz, Executive Director of INABIF.

The collaboration between both institutions, with technical assistance from the ILO, represents a significant step in the fight against trafficking in persons, aligning with the National Policy against Trafficking in Persons by 2030. This collaboration emphasizes economic reintegration as a crucial tool to prevent re-victimization and promote the long-term well-being of these young women.

“We cannot talk about decent work, the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals, or social justice if we do not ensure that each of the adolescents and young women have the necessary opportunities to advance and achieve their goals,” stated Italo Cardona, ILO Director for the Andean Countries.