The objective of this investigation is to state a review of the mass media role in the prevention and attention of the human trafficking phenomenon, starting with an inquiry of the problem and the actions performed by the participants of this type of trafficking. The methodology includes a theoretical and regulatory review of the topic; and additionally, a survey of 393 participants, with ages between 18 and 83 years (M=36; SD=15.8 years), residing in the city of San Gil, Santander. The variable “knowledge of the phenomenon”, within the results, shows that there are meaningful differences between “consuming” social networks, daily newspapers or radio, with respect to the people who did not do it.The variable “definition of the concepts”, shows only differences with regard to the frequency of use of social networks expressed by the participants. It was also recorded that there is a strong association between human trafficking and sexual exploitation.The conclusion of this study supports the mass media approach, which favors the rating or competence, over the information role of the human rights approach, to facilitate the comprehension, prevention and mitigation of this problem. © 2018 Policia Nacional de Colombia. All rights reserved.

Prohibited economic exploitation Procuring Crime transnacionalization (source:Tesauro de política criminal latinoamericana - ILANUD) Social networks Human trafficking Transnational crime Social mass media

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