U.S.-Peru Child Protection Compact holds final annual dialogue on anti-trafficking efforts

Officials from the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office), the U.S. Embassy in Lima, and the Republic of Peru, including members of the Multisectoral Commission against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants, along with implementing partners, the International Labor Organization, and the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative, convened in Lima for the final Annual Dialogue of the U.S.-Peru Child Protection Compact (CPC) Partnership.

The CPC Partnership is a jointly developed, multi-year plan to strengthen Peru’s capacity to combat child trafficking that has focused on three main objectives: 1) enhance investigations through a victim-centered approach and increase effective prosecution and conviction of child traffickers, 2) improve ability to identify and provide comprehensive, specialized services to child trafficking victims, and 3) expand efforts to prevent child trafficking through community-based mechanisms.

Since 2017, the TIP Office has invested more than $9.8 million in foreign assistance funds through the Partnership. Peruvian authorities have contributed resources to operate six specialized shelters for child victims of trafficking, increased the number of specialized police and prosecutor positions, and funded public investment projects in Cusco and Loreto to enhance the capacity of regional governments to combat child trafficking. Implementing partners helped open specialized shelters for child trafficking victims, dramatically improving protection services for child survivors. The Ministry of Health approved the first-ever protocol for providing mental health services to child trafficking victims, and the Government of Peru approved the National Policy against Trafficking in Persons in 2021, marking a significant policy advancement to combat this crime.

Dialogue participants reflected on accomplishments achieved over seven years of collaboration through the CPC Partnership. Government stakeholders and implementing partners discussed past year’s successes and challenges in fulfilling CPC Partnership’s objectives as well as sustainability plans as it comes to an end. U.S. officials expressed optimism for long-term sustainability of CPC Partnership’s achievements and expressed hope that Peruvian authorities would sustain investments after formal partnership concludes in November. The United States will remain a steadfast ally in combating child trafficking in Peru.

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