Any suspicion of a possible case of trafficking in persons (whether the victim is an adult or a child or adolescent) should be reported immediately to the appropriate authorities as outlined below.

Once a child or adolescent is preliminarily identified, PANI will initiate the Special Protection Process, which is a set of procedures aimed at protecting and guaranteeing the rights of children and adolescents.

At the same time, a report should be filed with the Prosecutor, OIJ, and/or the Professional Migration Police (PPM).

During working hours, a presumed child or adolescent trafficking victim should be immediately referred to the PANI Local Office for protection and support. Outside of business hours, presumed child or adolescent trafficking victims should be referred through the PANI Regional Unit for Immediate Attention (DARI), which is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

To report a possible case of trafficking in persons, you should contact the Prosecutor’s Office and the OIJ individually or collectively, or contact the PPM.

Depending on the urgency of the case, the report may be submitted by telephone, in person, or by e-mail, providing as much information as possible to facilitate the investigation.

Remember, all practitioners have an ethical and legal mandate to report every possible instance of trafficking in persons. If you are a public official, consult your relevant institutional protocol to follow the appropriate reporting steps. 

Formal identification is the official determination that a person is a victim of trafficking – also known as accreditation. Accreditation is conducted by the Immediate Response Team (ERI), which is a specialized inter-institutional body created by Law 9095.

ERI is tasked with the accreditation of victims of trafficking. ERI also provides protection and assistance to any presumed trafficking victim and ensures that accredited trafficking victims have access to comprehensive services toward recovery and reintegration. PANI is responsible for screening presumed child and adolescent trafficking victims and referring them to ERI.

Private citizens or members of civil society can contact ERI directly if you suspect that someone you know or interact with may be a victim of trafficking. If you are a public official, you must follow your relevant institutional protocol for reporting trafficking cases.

If any individual is not accredited as a trafficking victim, they can file an appeal (appeals can also be filed by the referring institution or any ERI member). Until the appeal is resolved, ERI must continue to ensure the protection, safety, and assistance of the individual presumed to be a trafficking victim.

When an individual is not a trafficking victim, they may still be (and indeed often are) a victim of another crime and/or violation and still have protection needs. Every vulnerable child and adolescent should be referred to PANI for protection and to address their needs and vulnerabilities.

Beyond protection and assistance in the immediate, child and adolescent trafficking victims have the right to receive longer-term reintegration services.

The recovery and reintegration of child and adolescent trafficking victims is managed by PANI in coordination with relevant institutions. Recovery and reintegration assistance includes: