The Mexico Trafficking in Persons Shelter Project (PROTEJA), executed under the Capable Partners Program in cooperation with the Academy for Educational Development and part of the President’s Initiative to Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP), was funded by USAID and ran from May 2006 through March 2009.

The project’s main achievements were:

• The successful approval of anti-TIP legislation at the federal level (Nov. 2007) and in seven states (Chihuahua, Guerrero, Zacatecas, Mexico, Sonora, Morelos, and Oaxaca). On October 2, 2007, the Mexican National Congress approved the federal “Law to Prevent and Punish Trafficking in Persons.” PROTEJA worked closely with the Legislature throughout the progression of this legislation and the law was signed on November 26, 2007. Additionally, PROTEJA finalized and published a Legislative and Comparative Analyses that will serve as vital instruments for identifying states which are in most need of immediate reform, and assist any organization or group pursuing comprehensive anti-TIP legislation.
• The successful development of integrated social policies among government and non-government institutions that improved the protection and assistance provided to TIP victims. PROTEJA increased public understanding of TIP and was able to usher policy changes through a variety of means, including; training of the public sector and civil society; offering educational forums to the general public; utilizing the media to highlight the issue; developing an interactive website; and producing educational materials like pamphlets and a short film to reach broader audiences. In total, over 14,000 government and civil society officials were trained in combating TIP.
• The PROTEJA program increased the impact and sustainability of the models of intervention for victims and survivors of TIP by working directly with local shelters. PROTEJA worked closely with five shelters to update their service models to address TIP victims’ specific needs, included providing financial and technical assistance through coordinated meetings, formal training, and one-on-one consultations. At each of the shelters, PROTEJA conducted training workshops geared at informing the shelters about basic TIP concepts, the application of international instruments to prosecute and penalize TIP, the national and state level judicial frameworks to prosecute TIP, and the tools available to provide assistance and protection to victims. PROTEJA also assisted with the launch of criminal prosecutions for TIP violations on behalf of the shelters and offered legal advice to help trafficking victims. Finally, PROTEJA worked with the shelters at an administrative level. Close to 65,000 TIP victims received some sort of assistance through the five shelters.
• PROTEJA further developed the capabilities of local networks and task forces to prevent TIP and assist its victims. The project identified potential members who might work well together and then united them in workshops, meetings, and forums to collaborate on combating TIP. PROTEJA signed Memorandums of Understanding with the governments of three states: Morelos, Nayarit, and Quintana Roo.

As generally acknowledged by the U.S. Embassy and other key stakeholders, the efforts of the PROTEJA program helped move Mexico off of the U.S. State Department’s Tier 2 “Special Watch” list to the Tier 2 list, based on government action to combat TIP. The PROTEJA project will without a doubt serve as a model for future TIP projects in Mexico and around the world.

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