The Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act (Act 7 of 2023) repeals and replaces the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act of 2005 while retaining the core prohibition on all forms of human trafficking. Section 2 defines trafficking through the recruitment, transport, transfer, harboring, or receipt of a person for exploitation, using force, coercion, deception, abuse of power, or payments made to a person controlling the victim.
The case concerned issues of language in judicial rulings that led to revictimization. The protected applicant, the leader of an association of peasant women, was kidnapped and raped by an illegal armed group that considered her a threat. The plaintiff brought suit against two potential perpetrators who were acquitted by the court of Cundinamarca. The Constitutional Court ruled to exclude a section of the aforementioned decision because of the section’s use of vulgar and disqualifying expressions in relation to the victim of sexual violence.
The Indigenous Community Xákmok Kásek and its members sued Paraguay because of its inability to recover certain ancestral property. The Community claimed that this lack of access to property and possession of its territory, in addition to threatening the survival of the Community, resulted in nutritional, medical and health vulnerability to its members, causing, among other things, the death of pregnant women, children, and the elderly.
The Constitution sets forth the Argentine Republic’s fundamental principles, values, norms, and guarantees, including (among other enumerated rights and protections) the following:
The Venezuelan Constitution provides a broad framework for family protection, equality, and non-discrimination. Article 75 declares that the State protects the family as the natural and fundamental unit of society, based on equality and mutual respect among its members. Children and adolescents have the right to a family and identity, preferably within their family of origin; if that is not possible, they are entitled to substitute family care, with national adoption prioritized over international adoption.
Article 48 states that both men and women have equal civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights. Articles 49 to 59 protect the family and the rights of each member of its members. In turn, article 60 states that government authorities must promote public policies to prevent any kind of violence within the family unit. Article 89 provides for special labor protections for pregnant and lactating women, who cannot be dismissed by their employers. Article 115 supports peasant woman by allowing their participation in public debates on rural matters.
The Political Constitution of the Republic of Chile provides a fundamental legal framework to ensure equality before the law, prohibit arbitrary discrimination, and protect personal integrity and honor. Article 19(1) guarantees the right to life and to physical and psychological integrity, expressly stating that the law protects the life of the unborn. Article 19(2) affirms that men and women are equal before the law, prohibits privileges for individuals or groups, and forbids arbitrary distinctions established by law or authority.
The Colombian Constitution of 1991 promotes values and principles that protect and defend the role of women in society. Article 13 prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, national or family origin, religion, language, and political or religious opinion. Article 40 stipulates that authorities must guarantee the adequate and effective participation of women at all decision levels in the Public Administration.
Following a request to Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal Federal or “STF”) by then-President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the STF reviewed and upheld the constitutionality of the Lei Maria da Penha (“LMP”). The LMP is Brazil’s first law to address the problem of domestic violence against women on a national scale.
The Brazilian Constitution provides for equal rights to all individuals, regardless of sex, gender and/or sexual preference. However, specific discriminatory conducts are dealt with in the Criminal Code (Federal Decree No. 2.848/1940) and other Federal Laws. English translation available here.
