Secretariat Against Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons

Brief Description

Between 2017-2020, the SVET (Secretariat Against Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons) protected in temporary shelters 823 women victims of crimes of trafficking, sexual exploitation, labor, forced labor, among others. In 2019, the SVET implemented the specialized temporary shelter for adult migrant women, victims of crimes. 

The SVET through the 23 Departmental Networks against Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons ( in 19 departmental capitals, 2 in Petén and 2 in Quetzaltenango) implements actions for the prevention of trafficking in persons at the local level,  including activities aimed at vulnerable populations such as indigenous peoples, rural communities, among others. The SVET implements the community prevention project through Mobile Units for the Prevention of Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons (UNIVET). Currently, 6 mobile units  are being  worked on, in the 8 prioritized departments (Guatemala, Alta Verapaz, Huehuetenango, Chiquimula, Petén, Quetzaltenango, Totonicapán and Sololá) and gradually coverage will be given nationwide. The SVET carried out campaigns for the prevention of crimes of sexual violence, exploitation and trafficking in persons (Vet), promotion of reporting during quarantine, and coordinated the campaign: Beware of Grooming, Sexting and Sextortion, with the Mingob-PNC and Ministry of Education; and  developed an internet safety guide in the Q'eqchi', Kaqchikel and Mam languages, which contains information on new techniques by criminal groups to attract victims of Vet crimes. 

In 2020, the SVET organized trafficking-related training for members of the judicial sector, law enforcement, immigration officials, and local leaders in municipal governments, including three training events for National Civil Police officials to assist in human trafficking investigations. 

The SVET coordinated the updating of the Inter-Institutional Coordination Protocol for the Repatriation of Victims of Trafficking in Persons, as well as the delegation of personnel to coordinate with authorities actions to inform and prevent the crime of trafficking in favor of migrants passing through the country as part of the migratory movements known as migrant caravans.