Within the framework of the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE) 2024 tourism fair, the Hotel and Tourism Association of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores) and the Embassy of the United States of America, through the Agency for International Development (USAID ), signed an agreement with the objective of promoting an awareness and communication strategy for the prevention and detection of human trafficking in tourist areas of the country.
“Through this alliance, programs and training will be developed and implemented aimed at raising awareness among hotel staff about human trafficking indicators, identification protocols and best practices to respond to this problem,” explained Rebecca Latorraca. , Director of USAID. She also highlighted that reporting mechanisms and collaboration between hotels, local authorities and civil society organizations will be strengthened, in order to identify and rescue victims of human trafficking.
David Llibre, president of Asonahores, expressed that the main actors in the Dominican tourism industry join this strategy together with the US Embassy, the Attorney General's Office and the Ministry of Tourism against the It is a person training the collaborators of the different companies in the tourism sector to know what to do in a possible situation.
“At Asonahores we are committed to creating alert measures, through timely dissemination and comprehensive help from hotels, airports and the entire tourist offer to avoid this scourge,” said Llibre.
Thanks to this agreement, the campaign against human trafficking “Don't let yourself go” will be disseminated in ports, airports and hotels in the Dominican Republic, as well as in activities, events and social networks of ASONAHORES. In addition, awareness days on the topic will be implemented for migration personnel and employees of the association's member hotels.
The campaign against human trafficking “Don't get carried away” seeks to spread the prevention message about this crime among vulnerable populations, as well as the general public who could raise the alarm about this crime.
This joint effort between the cooperation sector and the private sector has the purpose of contributing to the eradication of this crime that violates the most fundamental human rights and affects the social fabric of the affected States, including the Dominican Republic.