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JAVIER ANTONIO MORAZAN &

JUAN VICTORIANO RUIZ
Nicaragua , Class of 2013

Javier A. Morazan, a public prosecutor, and

Juan V. Ruiz, a police o!icer, have created an
incredibly e!ective prosecutorial and
investigative team.

Mr. Morazan is the head of the Public Prosecutor’s Anti-Corruption and Anti-Organized Crime Unit in
Nicaragua. Known as incredibly knowledgeable on the subject of human trafficking in Nicaragua, he has

TIP Report
relentlessly pursued the conviction of traffickers. His office secured a record 25 convictions in 2012. He
has personally been responsible for the majority of convictions against traffickers since 2009. His
success in prosecuting the people responsible for trafficking has been at least partly due to a powerful
partnership he formed with Juan V. Ruiz, a Lieutenant for the National Police of Nicaragua. Mr. Ruiz is
the head of the Police’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons Unit. He has a small team that works day and night to
investigate human trafficking cases throughout the country. Before his unit was created, there was an
average of 11 cases investigated per year. After the creation of his unit, and his appointment as its head,
that number has more than doubled to 24 cases per year. His unit investigates, gathers evidence, and
presents that to Mr. Morazan, who follows up by filing charges against the individuals responsible. The
teamwork that their informal partnership shows is remarkable and enviable, and should be an example to
the world of how we can work together on combatting modern slavery. Their partnership was recognized
when they were given a joint Heroes Acting to End Modern Slavery Award in 2013.
Active in:
Nicaragua In the 2014 TIP Report, Nicaragua was listed as a Tier 1 country. In 2009, just six years before that, they
had been listed on the Tier 2 Watch List, and their improvement is remarkable. It is a source and transit
Organization:
country for both sexual exploitation and forced labor, although primarily for the former. There still some
Nicaraguan Attorney General's Office 
child sex tourism to Nicaragua from Western countries. While strong in investigation and prosecution,
National Police of Nicaragua (La Policía
victim services should be increased.
Nacional Nicaragüense)  

TIP Award Year:

2013

Focus: BLOG POSTS

Sex Trafficking

Rescue Throwback Tuesday: the 2013 TIP Heroes Visit the Freedom Center
Prosecution

VIDEOS

Javier A. Morazan & Juan V. Ruiz Nicaragua is Known for Its Fight
Interview Against Human Trafficking
(Nicaragua es reconocida por su
lucha contra la trata de
personas)

ARTICLES View All

Nicaragua ejemplo para el mundo (Jul 28, 2014)

Lanzan programa contra trata de personas en Nicaragua y El Salvador (Mar 31, 2014)

Se incrementan el número de condenados por delitos de trata de personas (Trafficking Convictions

Increase) (Mar 31, 2014)

Meet more heroes working with

Sex Trafficking

SWATI CHAUHAN INACIO SEBASTIAO KATRIN GLUIC

MUSSANHE

This website was made possible through support provided by the United States Department of State, under the terms of Award No. S-SJTIP-14-CA-1003
The opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Department of State.

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