Ambassador Wayne Meets with Key Players in Fight Against Human Trafficking Prior to Their Travel to the U.S.

Ambassador Wayne Meets with Key Players in Fight Against Human Trafficking Prior to Their Travel to the U.S.

Mexico City, October 20, 2011—Ambassador Anthony Wayne today met at the U.S. Embassy with representatives of the Mexican Federal Attorney General’s Office, the Secretariat of Public Security, the Congress, and the State Attorney’s Office for the Federal District and the State of Puebla. The participants are members of a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement group who are traveling next week to visit counterparts in the U.S. capital, where they will see first-hand U.S. efforts to combat human trafficking, observe oral court proceedings, and share best practices with their U.S. counterparts.  Ambassador Wayne and his team at the Embassy were eager to meet with the group, as they play key roles in Mexico’s efforts to strengthen its trafficking law of 2007, investigate and prosecute human trafficking offenders at the state and federal levels, and protect the victims of human trafficking.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Ambassador Wayne said, “The United States and Mexico share a common belief that the crime of human trafficking must be handled collaboratively and with a focus maintained squarely on the victims.  Meeting this group of outstanding public servants, who have dedicated themselves to combating this heinous crime, has confirmed what we already knew:  that Mexico is an invaluable partner in our joint struggle to put those who engage in human trafficking out of business and behind bars, once and for all.”

Human trafficking violations are some of the hardest crimes to prosecute as they require a high level of expertise from both investigators and prosecutors, as well as a multi-jurisdictional approach that is victim-centered.  The participants in the October 24-26^th study tour to Washington will, upon return, be force multipliers in Mexico’s efforts to investigate and prosecute human traffickers. While in Washington, they will meet with officials of the Department of Justice, Department of State, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, non-governmental organizations, legal professionals, civil rights specialists, and the National and International Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

During today’s meeting, Ambassador Wayne also commended Mexico’s prosecutors and law enforcement agencies for their cooperation in the fight against human trafficking, which has led to unprecedented success on both sides of the Mexico-U.S. border.