ZOE International has now launched in Mexico. Mexico is both a source country for other nations like the USA, and a destination country. In Mexico, victims are trafficked through force, fraud, and coercion. Many Central and South Americans are trafficked into Mexico or trafficked through Mexico to the USA, making it a transit country as well.
Commercial sexual exploitation of children within the tourism industry is a growing problem in areas around northern border cities. Many exploited children are from the United States, Canada, and Western Europe. Labor trafficking for men, women, and children is another problem. Trafficking children and adults are held in “debt bondage” that they cannot pay back.
ZOE is located in Oaxaca, Mexico, which is considered to be a “crossroads” for human trafficking as a source, destination, and transit state for this crime. We are beginning our work with child trafficking prevention. Our goal is to spread awareness about child trafficking to begin with as most Mexican citizens are largely unaware of the child slavery around them. ZOE plans to be involved in assisting with rescue, and restoration of children in future. Follow ZOE’s work in Mexico here.