TIJUANA.- Great news for Tijuana was being honored with the Tonantzin National Award to the "Best Family Development" granted by the Mexican Association of Political Consultants (AMECOP in Spanish) and Mexico Marketing.

The prize was awarded based on the important labor DIF Tijuana (Integral Family Development institute in Tijuana) has done helping the families of the city, especially the ones from vulnerable groups.

During their administration there have been two main campaigns:

The first one being "You are not merchandise" ("No eres mercancía", this campaign focused on containing and preventing human trafficking. As part of the strategy, DIF Tijuana forged an alliance with the Sosvia Company who developed the "Saint 2.0" software which prevents the computers where it is installed from displaying pornography. The company also tries to make people aware of the magnitude of the problem and spreads the warning signs about possible threats people should look out for.

Last March, DIF Tijuana presented the "Draw the line… don't be silent in front of domestic abuse" ("Marca la línea… Ante la violencia familiar no te calles", a program where they restructured the Integral Unit of Family Protection which consists of a help hotline, psychological orientation, legal help, social workers and medical examinations for the victims of domestic abuse, the women as well as their children.

Carolina Bustamante and her team have joined the huge effort the community is making to regenerate Tijuana, a task that, even if difficult, has not gone unnoticed by national and international eyes.

brenda.colon@sandiegored.com

Original Text : Brenda Colón

Translation: Karen B. Licea