Institutional Failings Plague Mexico's Human Trafficking Efforts
Mexico's fight against human trafficking is hampered by a lack of specialized training for investigators, particularly in "psychology of testimony," says UNAM expert. This deficiency leads to contaminated evidence and hinders justice for victims.
Mexico. A country of vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and culinary brilliance. But beneath the salsa-dancing veneer lies a grimmer reality, one that ought to make every citizen—and every human being—stop and take notice: human trafficking. It’s a crime so vile, so corrosive to human dignity, that it’s almost unfathomable. And yet, it persists, not because we don’t know about it, but because the systems in place to combat it are as shambolic as a tequila-drunk tourist trying to salsa for the first time.
Let’s start with the basics. Patricia González Rodríguez, a sharp mind from the Institute of Legal Research (IIJ) at UNAM, recently pointed out the glaring deficiencies in how Mexico tackles human trafficking. It’s not that the laws aren’t there—they are. The problem is the people enforcing them are like chefs without recipes. They lack the tools, training, and structure to cook up anything close to justice.
