Norma Ferrer is a human rights defender and lawyer with a master’s degree in law and international relations. She has authored research articles for Transparencia Venezuela on topics such as institutional integrity of the penal system, asset recovery, international sanctions, corruption and migration in the context of Covid-19. She is a researcher for Exodo, A.C., where she identifies and supports the victims of human trafficking. She also researches the impact of corruption on girls, adolescents and women in the context of Venezuelan human mobility. Ferrer also writes articles for scientific journals as well as national and international academic publications.  

IVLP Impact Award Project: Ground Up - Preventing Trafficking in Persons in Teenage Women

This project was created to prevent the trafficking of teenage girls in Venezuela. It was developed in response to the disappearance of teenage girls from high schools in an area allegedly linked to human trafficking networks. Training sessions, research and activities were conducted to empower teenage girls to understand and identify practices of trafficking in persons in their communities. Teenagers who could become victims of trafficking were provided with the tools to prevent them from being susceptible to falling into trafficking networks.

" We must find the way to expand the impact of the project to most schools in Venezuela. " -  Participating School Staff Member

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Norma participated in the IVLP Project Combating Trafficking in Persons, organized by the U.S. Department of State and American Councils for International Education, in partnership with Global Ties Detroit, World Affairs Council of Kentucky & Southern Indiana, WorldDenver, Global Ties San Francisco, and Global Ties Miami.

Norma's exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award Project: "The IVLP was a great opportunity to learn new and different approaches in the prevention, protection and prosecution of trafficking in persons. The way civil society organizations work together with the State is inspiring and makes me think about the possibility that someday in my country we could achieve this synergy. Victim orientation is a valuable asset that I would like to implement through institutional changes and in the attention provided by organizations."

U.S. Communities Visited Virtually

San Francisco, CA; Denver, CO; Washington, DC; Miami, FL; Louisville, KY; Detroit, MI

Country: Venezuela

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