Crime

Why Our War on Human Trafficking Needs a Reboot

Despite legal progress, human trafficking persists due to social inequalities. Experts urge a shift from legal focus to addressing societal vulnerabilities that make women, migrants, and minorities easy targets.

Mexicanist

Jun 9, 2024 — 2 min read

Justice out of reach for many victims of human trafficking.

Human trafficking, a contemporary evil that preys on the most vulnerable, continues to cast a long shadow despite legal advancements. Professor Alethia Fernández de la Reguera Ahedo of the UNAM Legal Research Institute lays bare the troubling truth: progress is sluggish, a frustrating stalemate despite a flurry of programs and political pronouncements.

The crux of the issue, argues Fernández de la Reguera, lies in a myopic approach. We've become fixated on legal frameworks, neglecting the fertile soil of social inequities where this monstrous crime thrives. Human trafficking flourishes in the murk of "structural violence," a pervasive web of societal ills that remain stubbornly obscured. Until we illuminate these underlying factors, our efforts to prevent and prosecute will be akin to swatting at flies while ignoring the honey pot.

A Mexican farmer looking hopeful while holding a bag of seeds, symbolizing potential support for agricultural production.

Reforming Mexico's Agrarian Law to Address Devastating Droughts

A Mexican congressman proposes reforms to Agrarian Law to establish federal strategies to mitigate droughts' effects on agriculture and support producers with seeds and fertilizers. He argues droughts harm the sector and expects them to impact crops.

A shadowy figure hunched over a desk, looking through files.

How the DFS Categorized its Secrets (And Why It Matters)

Declassified DFS documents offer a glimpse into a strange filing system. Reports like "President's Daily Briefing" with intrigue and "Cliff's Notes on Local Unrest" for presidential visits reveal how the DFS categorized and monitored information to control the narrative.

A computer screen displaying complex code with an artificial intelligence symbol glowing in the center.

How AI is Transforming Society (and Why We Need to Talk About It)

AI is no longer covert tech, it's a powerful tool interacting with us. Experts discuss how AI can benefit society but also raise concerns about bias and lack of regulation. Universities are considered key to ensuring ethical development and proposing frameworks to govern AI for the common good.

Illustration of two shadowy figures shaking hands in a dark alley, representing the clandestine activities of the DFS.

How Mexico's Encrypted Code Safeguarded National Security

Mexico's shadowy DFS used a secret code since 1947. Imagine grocery lists as coded messages. The President himself approved this system with numbered letters based on keywords. Destroyed messages and a tense political climate reveal the lengths they went to keep secrets safe.

Read more

Reforming Mexico's Agrarian Law to Address Devastating Droughts

How the DFS Categorized its Secrets (And Why It Matters)

How AI is Transforming Society (and Why We Need to Talk About It)

How Mexico's Encrypted Code Safeguarded National Security