Source: Aeroméxico

  • It is the first of its kind to show the crime’s route from recruitment to exploitation.
  • The exhibition will arrive at the Mexico City International Airport in December.
  • Free access is granted until October 31st at the Museum of Memory and Tolerance.

As part of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Aeromexico, the Museum of Memory and Tolerance and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Mexico, alongside strategic partners, inaugurated the itinerant exhibition “Destination: Liberty. The human trafficking route” .

The organizers were accompanied by strategic partners, and the exhibition is the result of the commitment of the three parties to highlight the importance of prevention and timely detection of this crime. The public will have free access starting today until October 31st at the Museum of Memory and Tolerance in Mexico City.

It is the first of it’s kind in Mexico showing the human trafficking route from recruitment to exploitation, feature real testimonies from different survivors.

Andres Castañeda, Chief of Digital and Customer Experience & EVP in Aeromexico said: “At Grupo Aeromexico we are conscious that, as part of the aerial transport industry, we have a significant and unique responsibility for the prevention of this crime during the transportation phase.” He also remarked, “Thanks to the joint effort with the UNODC we have designed a card that aims not only to aware our passengers and society about the main warning signs but also to provide information about how to detect and report possible cases. This card is onboard our aircraft in domestic and international routes, potentially impacting around 24 million passengers.”

Linda Atach, Director of Temporary Exhibitions at the Museum of Memory and Tolerance, added: “Human trafficking is one of the most widespread serious crimes in Mexico, a country that acts as a source, transit, and destination for many people. In 2023, 692 victims were registered, however 90% of these crimes go unreported. The collaboration between Aeromexico and the Museum of Memory and Tolerance brings visibility to this problem and offers tools for knowledge and action. The exhibition addresses the methods of recruitment and the destination of the victims, aiming to save lives and dignify the country’s future. No effort is too much when it comes to protecting a life.”

“The fortress of every ally benefit the victims by detecting this crime on time and bringing visibilty to the stories of all the survivors. Under the slogan: ‘We can’t leave any child or teenager behind in the fight against human trafficking’, we unite globally to reinforce our commitment to the protection of children. It compels us to look to the ones who are suffering”, said Mr. Kristian Hölge, Representative of UNODC in Mexico.

“The United States is glad to collaborate with Mexico and other nations in the world in the fight against human trafficking”, said Mr. Mark Johnson, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico.

It is expected that this exhibition arrives to the exhibition hall of Mexico City International Airport (AICM) managed by the Mexican Navy, where it will be open to the public in the month of December, then it will move to Cancun International Airport, operated by Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR) and some other location inside and out the country.

As part of this initiative, in the month of August on-site and online workshops will be implemented so that families and academics can access to prevention tools, which will be announced on the official channels of the Museum of Memory and Tolerance.

This crime infringes the liberty and human rights of people who are taken from their environment for purposes such as sexual exploitation, forced labor, organ trafficking, forced begging, among others.

According to the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2022 by UNODC, in the North American region (Mexico, Canada, and the United States), the majority of detected victims are adult women, representing 61% of the total victims, while 14% are adult men, 21% are girls, and 4% are boys. Additionally, the most detected form of exploitation is sexual exploitation, accounting for 73%, followed by forced labor at 21%.

Regarding sexual exploitation, 69% of the victims are women, 27% girls, 2% adult men and 2% boys. In terms of forced labor, 41% of the victims are adult women, 49% adult men, 4% girls and 6% boys.

Aware of the significant impact we achieve by being part of aerial industry, Grupo Aeromexico focuses on the prevention and detection of human trafficking, which is a flagship initiative in our sustainability strategy.

Thanks to the partnership between Aeromexico and UNODC Mexico since 2023, we have placed human trafficking prevention cards on over 150 aircraft that fly to the 110 destinations served by the company, with the purpose of identify possible cases.

In Aeromexico we continue to collaborate with organizations and government authorities to ensure that every flight, no matter the destination, is conducted with freedom.