The Office of the Attorney General of Colombia, Fundación Renacer, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and Avianca have decided to take action today, announcing their partnership to strengthen the prevention and detection of human trafficking during the airline’s domestic and international operations.

Through this alliance, Avianca will receive support and expertise from its partners in staff training for the prevention and detection of the crime, as well as the implementation of security protocols in its operations. Furthermore, the project aims to engage travelers through awareness campaigns, starting with the launch of an informative card, which will be available during flights and placed in the seat pockets. This card will contain information on: the definition and characteristics of the crime, how to detect and report such cases, general recommendations, and contact channels.

"At Avianca, we understand that defending human rights and fighting human trafficking requires the joint efforts of many institutions. To protect the victims of this crime, who are often the most vulnerable, we need better-informed and trained passengers, crews, ground staff, and security personnel. We need to talk about this scourge. Expose how it operates. Work with authorities. Empower potential victims and strengthen reporting. We are honored by this alliance with the Office of the Attorney General, Renacer, and the United Nations, who deserve recognition for their tireless efforts to detect this scourge in time and defend human rights,” said Felipe Andrés Gómez Vivas, Avianca’s Director of Sustainability and Institutional Relations.

"At the Office of the Attorney General, we welcome the start of this strategy with our partners. Through this strategy, starting with the informative card, the risk scenarios to which any airline passenger may be exposed will be revealed. The card includes a QR code from our national strategy ‘#EsoEsCuento,’ part of the Futuro Colombia crime prevention program, under the National Gender Violence Working Group of the Delegate for Territorial Security. The primary objective of this strategy is to prevent people who may be in vulnerable situations or know someone at risk from being affected by the various forms of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and migrant smuggling. Moreover, the website www.esoescuento.com contains a QR code that allows access to our easy-reporting platform. Once again, the Office of the Attorney General fulfills its goal of not only reaching the streets and territories, but also expanding worldwide with our strategic partners to combat human trafficking," said Vice Attorney General, Dr. Martha Yaneth Mancera.

Luz Stella Cárdenas, General Director of Fundación Renacer, commented, "Fundación Renacer considers this collaboration an unprecedented opportunity to raise awareness about human trafficking both nationally and internationally. This is a historic milestone that solidifies the airline’s commitment to fighting human trafficking. In close partnership with the Attorney General’s Office and the United Nations, our initiative with Avianca will focus on comprehensive airline staff training, providing essential information to passengers so they can identify potential trafficking situations, and implementing robust protocols to effectively address any suspicious cases. While this collaboration materializes with Avianca, our vision extends into the future, aspiring to involve other actors in the travel and tourism sector, in line with the HEROES project, a joint initiative between Fundación Renacer and the European Union."

Olivier Inizan, Deputy Regional Representative of UNODC for the Andean Region and Southern Cone, praised Avianca’s commitment to joining this coordinated effort with the national government and civil society, emphasizing the transportation sector as a crucial player in preventing the crime. "Early identification by airline personnel, the dissemination of clear messages, and the proper handling of cases are essential in the fight against this crime in the country."

Since a victim is never responsible for the situation they are experiencing, Avianca and its partners will work hand in hand to change the course of history and contribute to a world free from human trafficking.