International experts analyze the fight against trafficking

Ginés Miñano 

The book is edited by human rights activist Fernando Luis Mao and Silvia Giménez Rodríguez, director of the Observatory for the Analysis and Visibility of Social Exclusion (OEX) and professor of Sociology at URJC.

The work is organized into several thematic sections that analyze the issue from different perspectives. According to Silvia Giménez, the publication also includes “successful experiences in providing comprehensive care to victims, with a special focus on personal recovery and job reintegration processes.” The authors emphasize the importance of “promoting strategies that empower those affected, enabling them to rebuild their lives with dignity and autonomy.” In this sense, the book brings together testimonies, research, and lessons learned from various contexts, with the aim of improving the social and institutional response to a phenomenon that affects millions of people worldwide.

Institutional recognition of the work against human trafficking

During the ceremony, the OEX 2025 Commitment and Social Responsibility Award was also presented to Félix Durán Garrido, captain and head of the Human Trafficking Section of the Civil Guard's Central Operational Unit. The award recognizes his career in protecting victims and his contribution to strengthening strategies to combat this crime. The honoree, who participated in a round table discussion with Carolina Sánchez Bermejo, founder and director of Amar Dragoste, and Ezequiel Escobar Bellshaw, executive director of the anti-trafficking organization FIET, received his award from Brazil, where he is currently serving as head of the Spanish representation at the International Cooperation Center in Rio de Janeiro. Lieutenant Sonia Hurtado accepted the award on his behalf, as the captain was unable to attend.

Human trafficking, in the words of Silvia Giménez, “constitutes one of the most serious crimes against the freedom and dignity of individuals and is considered the slavery of the 21st century.” According to international organizations, it generates around $150 billion annually and affects some 25 million people each year, mostly women and girls. Faced with this reality, experts insist on the need to adopt a comprehensive approach that involves public institutions, social organizations, the private sector, and citizens.

For her part, the book's co-director, Silvia Jiménez Rodríguez, expressed her gratitude "to the Rey Juan Carlos University for the support provided to publish the work in an open access and free format, thus allowing anyone interested to consult it."

During the event, the Amar Dragoste association, through its job placement project for victims of trafficking, Coffee LifeThe program has offered barista-quality coffee to speakers and authors. The initiative has also allowed the program participants themselves to gain practical experience in event organization and management, using the opportunity as a learning experience and professional opportunity.