“Quintana Roo’s Bold Fight Against Human Trafficking: A National Hero Emerges”

Quintana Roo's state government, led by Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa, has been recognized for its efforts to combat and eradicate human trafficking and child exploitation. This recognition was given during the XXXVIII State Plenary of the Citizen Security and Justice Table of Quintana Roo, A.C. (Mexico S.O.S).

Members of the plenary acknowledged that Quintana Roo has been a national pioneer in confronting and eliminating human trafficking, particularly involving minors. Mexico S.O.S, in collaboration with the Freedom Foundation, has been instrumental in this fight, working closely with authorities to eradicate these heinous crimes. They have also been successful in linking with national and international allies, playing a crucial role in the establishment of UTRENNA.

Governor Mara Lezama stated, “In this government, we will not rest. Quintana Roo must cease being a haven for sexual predators. We will not allow harm to our women, girls and boys. We are committed to working tirelessly to restore peace and prevent our state from being a destination for those who exploit young girls and boys. The road ahead is long, but we are not afraid. We will confront them and we will not rest.”

In the session, it was revealed that between 2015 and 2021, 100 human trafficking investigation files were opened in Quintana Roo. However, since the establishment of the Special Unit for Human Trafficking at the end of 2021, 263 investigation files have been opened as of May 2024. This means that in just over two years, the number of opened files has more than doubled.

During this period, over 74 minors and 127 adults have been rescued in Quintana Roo. The local Attorney General's Office has also processed more than 38 individuals associated with these crimes. The determination of the Quintana Roo government and the competence of the Attorney General's Office have been instrumental in these achievements.

For their tireless efforts, Governor Mara Lezama, the Attorney General's Office led by Raciel López Salazar, and Tim Ballard were awarded special recognition by the alliance between Mexico S.O.S, the Citizen Security and Justice Tables of Quintana Roo, and the Freedom Foundation.