Violence as a Language of Power: Latin America Without a Filter. Workshop for Experts on Combating Human Trafficking

Workshop leaflet:

Przemoc jako język władzy-warsztaty.pdf

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On 30 September 2025, a specialist workshop was held in Warsaw for members of the Mazovian and Pomeranian Teams for Combating Human Trafficking. The meeting, organized by the Department of Public Order of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration (MSWiA), aimed to deepen knowledge about the cultural conditions of Latin America—a region from which the largest number of human trafficking victims in Poland originate.

The workshop, entitled “Violence as a Language of Power: Latin America Without a Filter,” was part of the key activities set out in the National Action Plan Against Human Trafficking for 2025–2027. Its goal was to analyze the phenomenon of violence in Latin American countries in its various dimensions—from state-level decisions, through social mechanisms, to everyday interpersonal relations.

Why Latin America?

Data from recent years clearly show a steady increase in the number of human trafficking victims identified in Poland who come from Latin American countries such as Colombia, Venezuela, Guatemala, and Mexico. Providing effective assistance and protection to these individuals requires not only knowledge of legal frameworks but, above all, a deep understanding of the cultural context they come from. Differences in communication, perceptions of authority, and social norms play a crucial role in building trust and delivering effective support.

Knowledge in a Nutshell

The workshop program was designed to present cultural factors that drive migration from Latin America as well as the elements that determine the risks of human trafficking in the region. The meeting was led by experts from Polish academic centers specializing in Latin American societies:

• Dr. Agata Błoch (Tadeusz Manteuffel Institute of History, Polish Academy of Sciences)

• Dr. Magdalena Walczuk (Institute of Iberian and Ibero-American Studies, University of Warsaw)

  
  

Strengthening the Support System

Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing and most profitable forms of organized crime in the world. Strengthening the cultural competence of professionals who work daily with victims is a key element in building an effective support system. The workshop represents an important step toward a better understanding and more effective protection of individuals from Latin America who have fallen victim to this cruel crime.

English translation from the official website: Przemoc jako język władzy: Ameryka Łacińska bez filtra. Warsztaty dla ekspertów ds. przeciwdziałania handlowi ludźmi - Portal o przeciwdziałaniu handlowi ludźmi - Portal Gov.pl