Project HEROES: Novel strategies to fight child sexual exploitation and human trafficking crimes and protect their victims.

Trafficking of human beings (THB) and child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSA/CSE) are two big problems in our society. Inadvertently, new information and communication technologies (ICTs) have provided a space for these problems to develop and take new forms, made worse by the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

At the same time, technical and legal tools available to stakeholders that prevent, investigate, and assist victims – such as law enforcement agencies (LEAs), prosecutors, judges, and civil society organizations – fail to keep up with the pace at which criminals use new technologies to continue their abhorrent acts. Furthermore, assistance to victims of THB and CSA/CSE is often limited by the lack of coordination among these stakeholders. 

In this framework, there is a clear and vital need for joint work methodologies and the development of new strategies for approaching and assisting victims. In addition, due to the cross-border nature of these crimes, harmonization of legal frameworks from each of the affected countries is necessary for creating bridges of communication and coordination among all those stakeholders to help victims and reduce the occurrence of these horrendous crimes. 

To address these challenges, the HEROES project comes up with an ambitious, interdisciplinary, international, and victim-centered approach. The HEROES project is structured as a comprehensive solution that encompasses three main components: Prevention, Investigation and Victim Assistance. Through these components, our solution aims to establish a coordinated contribution with LEAs by developing an appropriate, victim-centered approach that is capable of addressing specific needs and providing protection. The HEROES project’s main objective is to use technology to improve the way in which help and support can be provided to victims of THB and CSA/CSE.

Our main tasks

• Identification of fake job offers (INDOOR tool)
• Real-time instant messaging application content acquisition
• Security validation and deployment of developed tools

Partners

ASSOCIACAO BRASILEIRA DE DEFESA DA MUHLER DA INFANCIA E DA JUVENTUDE | ASSOCIACAO PORTUGUESA DE APOIO A VITIMA | ATHINA-EREVNITIKO KENTRO KAINOTOMIAS STIS TECHNOLOGIES TIS PLIROFORIAS, TON EPIKOINONION KAI TIS GNOSIS | BRAZILIAN FEDERAL POLICE | CENTRE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN STUDIES | COMANDO CONJUNTO DE LAS FUERZAS ARMADAS DEL PERU | ELLINIKO SYMVOULIO GAI TOUS PROSFYGES | ESPHERA - CULTURAL, AMBIENTAL E SOCIAL | FUNDACAO UNIVERSIDADE DE BRASILIA | FUNDACIÓN RENACER | GLAVNA DIREKTSIA BORBA S ORGANIZIRANATA PRESTUPNOST | ELLENIC POLICE | IDENER.AI | IEKSLIETU MINISTRIJAS VALSTS POLICIJA STATE POLICE OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR | INSTITUT NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE EN SCIENCES ET TECHNOLOGIES DU NUMÉRIQUE | INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN SWITZERLAND | INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR MIGRATION POLICY DEVELOPMENT | KENTRO MELETON ASFALEIAS | KOVOS SU PREKYBA ZMONEMIS IR ISNAUDOJIMU CENTRAS VSI | POLICÍA NACIONAL | POLICIA RODOVIARIA FEDERAL | SECRETARIA DE INTELIGENCIA ESTRATÉGICA DE ESTADO - PRESIDENCIA DE LA REPÚBLICA ORIENTAL DEL URUGUAY | TRILATERAL RESEARCH LIMITED | UNIVERSIDAD COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID | UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL DE CAMPINAS | UNIVERSITY OF KENT | VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL

Start date – finish date

12 / 2021 - 11 / 2024