Warnath Group is working with community-based multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) in Costa Rica, called Local Subsystems of Protection (SSLPs), to strengthen their capacity to conduct preliminary identification, referral, and protection of child trafficking victims. These activities are ongoing and will expand over the course of the IACT Program.
On August 9, the IACT team conducted a follow-up training session with the SSLP La Cruz to further their understanding of child trafficking in Costa Rica and to apply this knowledge in practice. The training session focused on different indicators of child trafficking (behavioral, physical, situational, and community-based) and how to apply these to real-world trafficking situations to be able to preliminarily identify and refer child and adolescent trafficking victims.
This follow-up training session was attended by practitioners from various institutions and organizations, including the Contraventional Court, Directorate-General for Migration and Aliens (DGME), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Ministry of Public Education (MEP), Ministry of Health (MSP), the National Child Welfare Agency (PANI), and the State University of Distance Learning (UNED).
Senior Technical Advisor Carolina Suárez Madríz facilitates a training with the SSLP La Cruz on August 9.
On August 12, Warnath Group conducted its first foundational training with the SSLP Santa Cruz. This day-long training focused on understanding child trafficking, including the specifics of how it occurs in Costa Rica. The sessions also explored barriers in victim identification and ways to overcome challenges in the preliminary identification and referral of child and adolescent trafficking victims. This included focusing on the five steps of victim protection and the role of SSLPs at each of these steps.
This foundational training was attended by practitioners from various institutions and organizations, including the Administrative Police, Costa Rican Fund of Social Security (CCSS), National Council of Persons with Disabilities (CONAPDIS), National Youth Council (CPJ), Criminal Court of Nicoya, Directorate-General for Migration and Aliens (DGME), National Directorate of Community Development (DINADECO), the Prosecutor’s Office, Institute on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (IAFA), Juvenile Criminal Court, Ministry of Public Education (MEP), Ministry of Health (MSP), Ministry of Justice and Peace (MJP), Municipality of Santa Cruz, NGO Opening Minds Association, and the National Child Welfare Agency (PANI).