In October 2025, Free the Slaves partnered with Conexión and the Bolivian Network Against Trafficking and Smuggling of Persons (RBcTTP) to strengthen Bolivia’s collective response to human trafficking—placing particular emphasis on forced labor and labor trafficking, forms of exploitation that often remain less visible in both policy and practice.
The initiative was designed as more than a standalone training. It formed part of a three-phase hybrid capacity-building process that combined virtual learning, an in-person workshop in La Paz, and a forthcoming mentorship stage aimed at ensuring that new skills translate into institutional practice and sustained cooperation.
An assessment conducted with the Network revealed that while Bolivian organizations have played a central role in addressing trafficking for sexual exploitation, the labor dimension of the crime remains underexplored—particularly in sectors such as agriculture, domestic work, and mining. Many organizations identified a need to strengthen technical understanding, victim identification, referral pathways, and trauma-informed approaches. This process was therefore conceived as a strategic effort to broaden the Network’s scope and capacities, integrating practical tools, inter-institutional coordination, and survivor-informed perspectives.
The training brought together representatives from civil society organizations across the departmental networks of La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, and Tarija, including Cáritas Bolivia, Educo, Conexión, Fundación Munasim Kullakita, Fundación Integral para la Juventud, CEADL, and others engaged in community-based prevention and survivor support. Sessions were inaugurated with the participation of the leadership of the Plurinational Council Against Trafficking and Smuggling of Persons, reinforcing the importance of cross-sector collaboration. In total, 44 participants completed the pre-assessment and 25 completed the post-assessment, reflecting engagement from both urban and rural contexts.
The first phase of the process took place through virtual sessions held between September and October 2025. Participants explored core concepts related to modern slavery, labor trafficking, and forced labor, clarifying key distinctions essential for effective identification and response, and grounding discussions in regional data from UNODC and the ILO. A survivor’s testimony describing exploitation in the agricultural sector helped connect theory to lived experience, prompting discussion on community-based prevention and participatory mapping exercises.
“The training was dynamic, participatory, and practical — we learned from each other.”
Building on this foundation, the in-person workshop held in La Paz on October 30–31, 2025, deepened learning through hands-on practice. Participants engaged in trauma-informed interviewing techniques and role-playing exercises simulating first-contact scenarios in manufacturing and agricultural settings, strengthening their confidence in identifying indicators of forced labor and responding safely.
“The role-playing exercises allowed us to apply theory to real-life cases and improve communication with potential victims.”
The second day focused on Bolivia’s legal framework and analysis of real cases, culminating in a collaborative exercise in which members of the Network and partner organizations co-created an inter-institutional referral flowchart. This process strengthened shared understanding of institutional mandates and improved coordination across civil society organizations, law enforcement, and service providers.
“Building the referral protocol together clarified each institution’s role and strengthened our coordination.”
Pre- and post-training evaluations demonstrated significant gains in knowledge and confidence. Following the training, 95% of respondents reported improved clarity around labor trafficking, forced labor, and their legal foundations under ILO Conventions 29 and 105, the 2014 Protocol, and Bolivian law. Confidence in identifying indicators such as coercion, debt bondage, document confiscation, and restriction of movement increased substantially, with more than 85% of participants reporting readiness to apply trauma-informed techniques during first-contact situations.
Participants also reported greater confidence in applying community-based tools introduced during the virtual sessions and refined during the in-person workshop. These participatory approaches enabled organizations to adapt prevention strategies to both rural and urban contexts and design practical community action plans integrating local actors, risk areas, and referral networks.
“Having the chance to analyze real Bolivian cases helped us understand how to act in our local contexts.”
Beyond the training itself, the visit to La Paz strengthened institutional partnerships and government collaboration. Free the Slaves held meetings with allied organizations and government representatives, including a meeting with the Minister of Justice, who requested further engagement with Free the Slaves and Conexión. These discussions reinforced the bridge between policy and practice, helping ensure that lessons from the training inform broader national anti-trafficking efforts.
Sustaining Impact Through Continued Collaboration
Following the successful completion of the hybrid training, Free the Slaves is launching a third mentorship phase. Through bi-weekly group and individual sessions, this process will support organizations as they apply the referral protocol, address real cases, and consolidate institutional learning. By combining shared knowledge, survivor-informed perspectives, practical tools, and sustained collaboration, this initiative strengthens Bolivia’s capacity to address trafficking and forced labor through coordinated, community-based action—ensuring that learning leads to lasting impact.
