Barriers to combating human trafficking in Colombia

Abstract

Despite international and domestic policies and programs intended to combat human trafficking, Colombia remains one of the countries with the highest instances of human trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. Factors contributing to human trafficking in Colombia, such as internal violence and displacement, drug trafficking, a weak central government, and widespread corruption, have overpowered what energies the government marshaled against it. Moreover, governmental anti-trafficking programs tend to be underfunded, poorly administered, and quickly abandoned by Colombian officials. Additionally, hardline U.S. anti-drug policies in the region have aggravated the human trafficking problem without significantly affecting the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. Consequently, thwarting human trafficking, protecting and providing for its victims, and prosecuting perpetrators of the crime have been significantly challenging in this South American country.