Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – In a significant move to address the escalating issue of human trafficking in Jalisco and its surrounding areas, authorities in Jalisco and Zapopan organized the second Forum for Women’s Rights, titled “The Life I Deserve: Safe and Peace!” The event, aligned with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, brought to light the pervasive nature of human trafficking across the territory, emphasizing its alarming presence in municipalities, including Puerto Vallarta.
Karina González, representing the Back Home association, highlighted the indiscriminate nature of this crisis. “Human trafficking is everywhere. In Puerto Vallarta, the situation is particularly dire, but the problem is widespread across the city and beyond,” González stated, stressing the universal vulnerability to this issue.
Statistics from the National Public Security System in Mexico paint a grim picture. The number of human trafficking victims has been on a relentless rise, with 448 cases reported so far in 2023, escalating from 936 in 2022, 753 in 2021, and 681 in 2020. González pointed out a disturbing trend in Jalisco for 2023, noting, “Now we see many men between 20 and 30 years of age falling prey to trafficking, but the reality is that everyone, regardless of age or gender, is at risk.”
The DIF Zapopan, led by President Michelle Greicha Frangie, confirmed an uptick in trafficking victims. In 2022, the municipal DIF provided assistance to 80 families, a number that has already reached 110 in 2023. “The increase is noticeable and concerning. We initially served around 80 families, but the numbers have been growing over the years,” said Frangie.
Despite the efforts of DIF Zapopan, which currently employs 50 health professionals to support families searching for missing persons, resources are stretched thin. The continual rise in cases year after year in the municipality and the broader region outpaces the available support systems, as Frangie acknowledged.
This forum comes against a backdrop of global concern. According to United Nations data, approximately 45,000 women and girls were killed by partners or family members worldwide in 2021, underscoring the critical need for concerted action against violence and trafficking.
As Jalisco and surrounding areas grapple with this burgeoning crisis, the Forum for Women’s Rights serves as a crucial platform for awareness, discussion, and the formulation of strategies to combat human trafficking and safeguard the rights and lives of vulnerable populations.
