Changes in administration often hinder continuity in policies
and services. In the course of this investigation, Nicaragua, Costa Rica
and Honduras hosted presidential elections, which radically altered the
governmental framework.
Programs in place from a prior
administration, even of the same political party, were interrupted for
evaluation, if not discontinued. A high percentage of political and
technical staff was replaced, sacrificing any capacity building that
occurred under the prior administration.
Lack of Regional or International Cooperation
and Coordination
Trafficking in the region most commonly involves
transnational movement; yet coordinated law enforcement activities
across these borders do not exist.
Facilitated rescues of foreign minors
may prompt an investigation by police and prosecutors in the
destination country, but case information is never transmitted to law
enforcement agencies in the country of origin.
Even along border
areas, government officials have not engaged in any bilateral
enforcement activities.
As noted by a police investigator in Nicaragua,
communication between counterparts is crucial not only for
information sharing, but also to better understand the human and
technological resource strengths and limitations of the partner country.
None of the police and prosecuting units consulted had the ability to
make international telephone calls or transmit faxes.
INTERPOL assists to a limited extent by providing lists of international fugitives,
but few of the agents consulted view INTERPOL as sufficiently active.
Primary means of regional information sharing are through
consulates, Human Rights Ombudsman's offices and non governmental
organizations.
Consulates have served important liaison functions
between complainants, such as parents of missing minors, and the local
enforcement agencies of the host country. Complaints received
through Human Rights Ombudsman's offices in one country are
usually shared with the counterpart institution in the concerned country.
Finally, the loose network of human rights organizations that accept
complaints on these issues regularly correspond and rely on each other
to investigate, transmit complaints to local authorities, or report it to
media sources.
These communication networks have proved extremely
effective and are well poised to provide necessary protection and
integration services to victims.
Nevertheless, they are limited in
significant ways: the organizations and institutions often are
constrained in their ability to continue with additional investigations
and have no competence to pursue and arrest traffickers.
Absent
similar coordination between law enforcement agencies, the region's
trafficking problem will only be treated but not solved.