Teulada hosts district meeting of professionals against trafficking of women and girls

Teulada's municipal offices hosted a meeting last Friday dedicated to the trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and girls, promoted by the Cultural Association of Marina Alta (MACMA) together with the Equality Network, with the backing of the local council. Around seventy people from social services, healthcare, the security forces and the legal sector across the comarca attended the meeting.

The session was organised into three thematic blocks that allowed the phenomenon to be addressed from different professional perspectives. Among those who spoke were Juan Cuesta Picazo, representative of the UCRIF; Paula Pérez Lledó, from EMUME; Carmen Catalá Moltó, from the UVFI; and Felipe del Baño Fernández, commissioner for the Fight against Violence Against Women, alongside managers of the Women's Centres in Yátova and Segorbe, and municipal technicians from Calp and Dénia.

Third sector organisations dedicated to victim support also took part, such as the Alba Programme, Amar Dragoste and the Alicante Trafficking Zero Table, sharing their experience in supporting women affected by these situations.

Coordination between administrations

During the event, the Equality Network called for the implementation of coordination mechanisms between administrations to prevent victims from being left unprotected depending on the municipality where they are found. As examples of local action, the abolitionist bylaws approved in Calp and Dénia were cited as references for good practice.

Participants agreed on the need to move towards a stable district strategy against trafficking, with the aim of consolidating Marina Alta as a territory free from sexual exploitation.