The present report is the product of many years of research and learning at IHRLI on the complex issue of human trafficking. It builds on the knowledge gained through a rigorous review of trafficking literature around the world.
Student and volunteer
researchers examined over 200 United Nations reports from treatymonitoring
bodies, Special Rapporteurs, and other bodies for
information on trafficking and related practices.
In addition, international and regional treaties were analyzed and specially assessed
for their force and application in the Central American region.
Domestic legislation and policy statements were also collected,
reviewed, and compared. All of these research efforts have
contributed to the current report.
The regional report was prepared by Elissa Steglich,
Trafficking Project Officer. David E. Guinn contributed to the editing
of the report and prepared the summary report on trafficking in Brazil.
Contributions were made by volunteer lawyers, as well as IHRLI
Fellows and staff: Erin Abrams, Michele Dempsey, Jill Esenwein
Holly, Carolyn Frazier, Jennifer Healy, Anne Relias, and Sara Wraight.
Laura Langberg of the Inter American Commission of Women assisted
in the final eight weeks of the project's fieldwork. Angela Hernandez
provided translation services.
IHRLI is grateful to the Inter American Commission of
Women and its Executive Secretary, Carmen Lomellin, for assistance
in this project and for the generous funding that IHRLI received
through the Commission from the United States Mission to the
Organization of American States, the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) and the Pan American Health
Organization. The Inter American Children's Institute of the OAS
provided additional financial underwriting.
The OAS Country Directors and the Principal Delegates to the
Inter-American Commission of Women deserve recognition for the
keen interest they assumed in the investigations as they advanced and
the technical support they offered to researchers during country visits.
Their efforts facilitated access to many critical information sources
without which this research would have been lacking.
The NGO partners in selected states, which are named in the
Preface, proved invaluable for their contributions to this project. Their
commitment to improving the situation of human rights in their
countries and advocating for the protection of the most vulnerable
sectors of society inspired the development of investigations.
As the constant on ground eyes and ears for this project, their significance
cannot be overstated. Special mention should also be made of Mr.
Romeo Magaña, who assisted researchers in Belize, and the Offices of
the National Human Rights Ombudsman in Santa Rosa de Copán, San
Pedro Sula, and La Ceiba, which provided invaluable support and
assistance for research in Honduras.
Lastly, IHRLI would like to express its appreciation and
gratitude to DePaul University for its financial support of this project
and, in particular, to its President, the Rev. John Minogue, C.M., and to
Ambassador John Kordek, Associate Vice President for External
Relations, for their support in so many ways.
The University Research
Council of DePaul University also generously supported the project. In
addition, the Institute extends its sincere thanks to the Jeanne and
Joseph Sullivan Foundation, which supports the Jeanne and Joseph
Sullivan Program for Human Rights in the Americas.