Washington DC, USA – Lawyers Without Borders Canada will be participating in the 30th annual Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition organized by the American University in Washington, D.C., from May 19 to 23, 2025.
The Inter-American Moot Court is a simulated trial designed to train law students in presenting a hypothetical case of human rights violations before the Inter-American Court. Students must submit a legal brief and deliver oral arguments before a panel of experts with the Inter-American System.
The competition aims to foster the next generation of legal professionals and deepen their understanding of key human rights issues.
This year’s theme is Human Trafficking.
LWB Canada Executive Director, Karine Ruel, has been invited to serve as an honorary jury member.
Additionally, LWB Canada will co-host an event during the competition to share its experience in combating human trafficking through a human rights-based approach.
Understanding human trafficking for more effective responses
According to the latest data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), victims of human trafficking were exploited in over 128 countries in 2022, underscoring the global nature of this scourge.
Traffickers prey on individuals in vulnerable situations, making human trafficking a reflection of systemic issues in our societies, such as social inequalities, gender discrimination and poverty. The greater the imbalance of power and inequality, are marked, the higher the risk of exploitation and trafficking for vulnerable groups.
To effectively address human trafficking, it is essential to tackle its root causes through multiples strategies, such as:
– Reducing social inequalities and promoting human development;
– Strengthening and guaranteeing the protection of human rights;
– Ensuring safe and legal migration pathways;
– Transforming consumption and production practices that enable exploitation;
– Supporting local civil society and community organizations that assist victims.
LWB Canada’s Efforts Against Human Trafficking
For nearly a decade, LWB Canada has led international cooperation projects in the Americas to fight human trafficking, supporting both civil society organizations that accompany victims and state entities responsible for prosecution. It also focuses on enhancing coordination and dialogue among all stakeholders involved in anti-trafficking efforts.
In concrete terms, LWB Canada is active in Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia and El Salvador, by:
– Publishing analyses of case law related to human trafficking;
– Making recommendations to state actors to strengthen legal frameworks and public policies;
– Creating platforms for dialogue and sharing best practices among experts;
– Delivering technical training to police, judges, prosecutors, and other institutions engaged in anti-trafficking work;
– Supporting civil society organizations that provide legal representation, psychosocial support and protection services to victims.
Legal resources
This section offers publications specially designed for lawyers and law students aiming to expand their knowledge of human trafficking through a human rights lens. Here you will find a curated selection of ressources and tools developed by LWB Canada, centered on this year’s competition theme, “Human Trafficking and Human Rights” (available only in Spanish).
- Ficha sobre el delito de trata y sus delitos conexos
- Fichas técnicas sobre las modalidades de trata de personas
- Construcción de la teoría del caso en materia de trata de personas
- El delito de la trata de personas y la atención integral a víctimas, con enfoque de género
- Análisis de sentencias del delito de trata de personas en Colombia (2006-2023)
- Analisis de sentencias del delito de trata en Guatemala (2020-2023)
- Guía de litigio estratégico en Honduras
- Guía de litigio con énfasis en trata de personas: Consejos de un litigante a otros litigantes
- Ficha El Enfoque Centrado en las Víctimas en el marco de los Procedimientos Penales Canadienses: prácticas del servicio de polícia de la Ciudad de Montreal y del Equipo integrado de lucha contra el proxenetismo
- Ficha Las Sobrevivientes: Un abordaje innovador en materia de sensibilización y prevención del fenómeno de la explotación sexual
- Nota jurídica : La víctima no cooperadora en casos de trata de personas