A world summit to help victims of trafficking

Newsroom

The conference was opened by Jesús María Arsuaga, Vice-Rector for Social Responsibility, Culture, and Sports. At the event, 56 speakers from 18 countries representing Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia presented their unique analysis of this human rights violation, each offering their own best practices for addressing the situation. Among the speakers were survivors from different countries who shared their experiences to help all those, primarily women and children, who experience this XNUMXst-century slavery firsthand.

Each panel of experts was preceded by a video presentation by the NGO Amar Dragoste, where victims shared their needs and uncertainties related to the event's theme. Coffee was served by Coffe Life, a project for the integration of victims of trafficking. "The goal was for victims and survivors to be the focus of the Summit," emphasizes Silvia Emma Giménez Rodríguez, professor of Sociology at the URJC and one of the event's organizers.

In this regard, the annual awards presented by the URJC Observatory for the Analysis and Visibility of Social Exclusion were also presented. The 2024 Social Responsibility Award went to Fernando Mao for his lifelong commitment to combating human trafficking and promoting the rights of children and adolescents, presented by Arcadio Soto, the Deputy Vice-Rector for Social Responsibility, Culture, and Sports. The 2025 Social Responsibility Award went to the film "Sound of Freedom" for bringing awareness to human trafficking. One of the speakers invited former American agent Timothy Ballard, the inspiration for the film, to speak. Ballard was among the attendees that afternoon to collect the award, generating a great deal of excitement among the audience.

La First World Summit on the Exchange of Good Practices in Care for Victims of Trafficking It concluded with “a high degree of consensus and a firm determination to continue developing short-, medium-, and long-term strategies and best practices to confront human trafficking in all its pernicious forms,” Giménez said.

This meeting of experts, academics, practitioners, anti-trafficking activists, and survivors generated an exchange of ideas and recommendations that participants will continue to foster upon their return to their countries to continue their efforts to halt human trafficking, educate civil society, strengthen the rule of law, implement methods to reduce trafficking cases, and rescue survivors so they can recover their integrity.

From the event management, which was attended by about 100 people in person and about 300 online, they do not forget to highlight their gratitude to the entities that sponsored this event, the Rey Juan Carlos University and the NGO Child Heroes.

Photos and videos of the event available at this link and in TV URJC.