Prosecutors and police officers show their skills to coordinate efforts against trafficking in persons
The specialized United Nations Agencies helped justice officers improve their capacities to combat trafficking in persons and protect trafficking victims, through the simulation of crime scenes and court hearings.
8 May 2023
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Lima – Police officers and prosecutors specialized in trafficking in persons simulated rescue operations, investigation procedures and court hearings, showing their skills to coordinate efforts in the fight against trafficking.
The 2023 Forensic Camp was organized by specialized UN Agencies in Peru with an innovative methodology, based on crime scene simulations where actors and actresses participated, and court hearings, observed and analyzed by national and international experts.
Police officers and prosecutors were trained through the simulation of crime scenes and court hearings. The participants’ performance was then discussed and they received feedback from experts in the fight against trafficking in persons. Through this essentially practical methodology, justice officers were training in topics such as the victim-centered approach, trauma-informed approach, collection of digital evidence, respect to a due processing in cases of pre-trial prison requests, and soft skills improvement. At the same time, this activity helped reinforce cooperation and collaboration between the Public Ministry and the National Police of Peru (PNP).
“Learning about the victim’s informed consent was very important. The victim should not be touched, not even to take her away from the crime scene, without asking for her consent,” explained Zaida Soto, first rank officer of the Directorate against Trafficking in Persons of the National Police of Peru (PNP).
In addition, Dra. María Arango, prosecutor specialized in trafficking in persons, stated that, in the camp, she learned to improve her approach to trafficking victims during interventions, how to litigate in court hearings and the importance of coordinated work between prosecutors and police officers.
At the end of the 2023 Forensic Camp, Iván Ángeles Palacios, commander of the Directorate against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants of the PNP, declar:
The 2023 Forensic Camp is an interagency response of the United Nations against trafficking in persons.
In the simulated court hearing, and subsequent feedback session, the following experts participated:
The 2023 Forensic Camp was organized by specialized UN Agencies in Peru with an innovative methodology, based on crime scene simulations where actors and actresses participated, and court hearings, observed and analyzed by national and international experts.
Police officers and prosecutors were trained through the simulation of crime scenes and court hearings. The participants’ performance was then discussed and they received feedback from experts in the fight against trafficking in persons. Through this essentially practical methodology, justice officers were training in topics such as the victim-centered approach, trauma-informed approach, collection of digital evidence, respect to a due processing in cases of pre-trial prison requests, and soft skills improvement. At the same time, this activity helped reinforce cooperation and collaboration between the Public Ministry and the National Police of Peru (PNP).
“Learning about the victim’s informed consent was very important. The victim should not be touched, not even to take her away from the crime scene, without asking for her consent,” explained Zaida Soto, first rank officer of the Directorate against Trafficking in Persons of the National Police of Peru (PNP).
In addition, Dra. María Arango, prosecutor specialized in trafficking in persons, stated that, in the camp, she learned to improve her approach to trafficking victims during interventions, how to litigate in court hearings and the importance of coordinated work between prosecutors and police officers.
At the end of the 2023 Forensic Camp, Iván Ángeles Palacios, commander of the Directorate against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants of the PNP, declar:
“I learn about the importance of planning, communication and coordination that should exist between specialized authorities, in order to have a better performance in operations, where victims are treated properly and traffickers are imprisoned for the crime committeo
Iván Ángeles Palacios, commander of the Directorate against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants of the PNP
The 2023 Forensic Camp is an interagency response of the United Nations against trafficking in persons.
“This joint effort was organized by the ILO Office for the Andean Countries, with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
A team of experts to improve the coordination between the police and the prosecution offices
In the simulated crime scene intervention, the following observers participated:- Rocío Gala Gálvez, senior prosecutor and national coordinator of the Specialized Prosecution Offices for Trafficking in Persons;
- Valeria Norali Torcetta, prosecutor from the Specialized Prosecution Office for Trafficking and Exploitation (PROTEX), Argentina;
- Ana Sierra, expert in the Trauma-Informed Approach;
- Jenifer Flores Seña, representative from UNODC; and
- Gabriela Ramos Cerna, representative from IOM.
In the simulated court hearing, and subsequent feedback session, the following experts participated:
- Iván Guerrero López, Supreme Judge in the Transitory Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of the Republic;
- Renzo Vinelli Vereau, litigating attorney; and
- Ricardo Elías Puelles, litigating attorney and ILO consultant.