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Hittscher has been a key figure in the fight against human trafficking in Loreto since 2016, and a crucial actor in the design, planning, and implementation of the U.S.-Peru Child Protection Compact Partnership. Earlier, Hittscher worked as a criminal prosecutor in Iquitos.
Hittscher is renowned for her collaboration and cooperation with the Peruvian Navy, Peruvian National Police, Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations, and civil society. Despite limited funding and minimal staff, she has made significant strides to advance investigations and seek prosecutions of human trafficking cases. Facing a shrinking budget, she has often had to use her own vehicles and money to ensure proper support for trafficking victims.
She has taken steps to help child trafficking victims feel at ease as they go through police interviews. Hittscher raised funds to provide needed support for these children and furnish an office space with comfortable furniture, so children are more at ease during interviews with police and in a supportive and attentive environment.
Hittscher has faced down major security concerns. The Peruvian government has a limited presence in the Loreto region, and migrant smuggling and human trafficking are rampant. She regularly travels into the jungle with police officers to conduct operations, despite knowing the potential for gunfire, injury, and loss of life. She endures indirect and direct threats to her life and still perseveres, and, in spite of the risks, drives remarkable progress.
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