Embassy Announces Grant to Unidos por la Justicia

August 12, 2009

The U.S. Embassy is proud to announce that the U.S.  Department of State's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons has awarded a USD 97,000 grant to Unidos por la Justicia Asociacion Civil to organize two training workshops for federal and provincial judges,  prosecutors and members of law enforcement agencies to strengthen local capacity to investigate and prosecute trafficking in persons crimes. Participants will also work on the development of a manual that judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officials can use to conduct investigations into the complex crime of human trafficking.

Unidos por la Justicia hopes that the combined effort of experts as well as federal and state officials, Argentina's judicial system and law enforcement community can better understand the complexity and scope of human trafficking crimes; improve federal and provincial coordination to investigate and prosecute human trafficking crimes effectively; and protect and restore the victims of this dehumanizing crime.

This grant is one of many that have been granted by the State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons to organizations throughout the world dedicated to the fight against human trafficking.   In June, the State Department granted a $67,000 grant to the Maria de los Angeles Foundation, founded by anti-trafficking activist Susana Trimarco, for the purposes of creating and training specialized police units to investigate trafficking in persons crimes in provinces that have been identified as high risk.  The State Department has also awarded a USD 280,000 grant to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to strengthen the capacity of counter-trafficking networks in the Tri-Border Area of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay to assist trafficking victims. 

About Unidos por la Justicia Asociación Civil:

Unidos por la Justicia Asociación Civil is a non profit, non governmental organization dedicated to strengthening Argentina's judicial system and democracy by improving public access to justice and promoting the rule of law. 

More information about Unidos and their initiatives can be found at: http://www.unidosjusticia.org.ar/