Panama’s President Juan Carlos Varela today signed the Blue Heart Pact, an initiative by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC), becoming the first Central American statesman who does it.

An official note by the Presidency informs that the objective of the Pact is to raise people awareness in fighting human trafficking and its impact in society.

The document was also signed by UNODC assistant executive director Aldo Lale-Demoz, and the representative of that Office for Central America and the Caribbean, Amado Philip de Andres.

According to the information, the Blue Heart Pact consists of 11 precepts among them to reject any form of exploitation derived from human trafficking, denounce with authorities any activity that could constitute human trafficking.

Also on the list is strengthening any action whose objective is to raise people awareness, inform, and educate about the seriousness of human trafficking crime.