Regardless of form, a trafficking experience will include numerous human rights abuses and other sufferings. These violations result from the mechanisms of control and coercion that traffickers use to keep victims in situations of sexual exploitation. Most commonly, traffickers exercise control in the following ways: retention of identification, travel and required health documents; imposition of debts for transportation, clothing, lodging, food, and other basic needs; threats of reporting immigration status to authorities; beatings and other physical abuse; and the posting of guards and other means of restraining liberty. The physical distance and isolation from support networks further secures complacency. These measures have serious physical, emotional and health consequences for victims. The resulting trauma is rarely treated, heightening the risk of being retrafficked for those who do escape.
Debt Bondage
A consistent feature in reported cases of trafficking is the
imposition of a debt on the trafficked person. Initial values are
established based on transportation fees or the "purchase price" of the
victim. Amounts are increased for the cost of clothing, makeup,
housing, food, drugs, condoms, and health testing (required in most
countries). Time spent not working is often charged and added to the
debt. House fines for improper behavior were also reported as being
levied.
In a recent case of trafficking to the United States involving
women and girls from Honduras, women were forced into prostitution
to repay a $10,000 transportation fee. In two other cases of trafficking
within the region, family members had to pay bar owners the "price" of
girls to secure their release. In most cases, these debts never diminish. Service providers
report that pimps, hotels and other establishments usually charge or
keep a majority percentage of client revenues. Victims become entirely
dependent on bar owners.
Restriction of Movement
Another common feature of trafficking in the region is the
limitation of movement once in conditions of sexual exploitation. In
most cases, this is achieved through confiscation of documents, which
leaves victims vulnerable to deportation. Reports were also received of
armed guards being placed outside of private brothels (casas de cita).
Even where restrictions are more lenient, women must purchase their
free days or free time, contributing to their debt bondage.
In Panama, immigration officials, health officers and
advocates all reported that women's passports and return tickets are
regularly retained by bar owners, even if the woman has a valid
"alternadora" visa. It was reported that in practice, women having
"alternadora" visas are not permitted to leave Panama without the bar
owner's release. Bar owners in Belize also are in the practice of
retaining passports and travel documents.
According to a recent survey of women and minors in
prostitution in Belize, ...Workers in the Corozal district feel that they are not
able to leave as they desire. Respondents noted that it is
possible to purchase free days. Many of the workers are
brought to work on a contractual basis. This contract
involves the owners paying for transportation to Belize,
which need to be repaid by the girls as they are working.
Those girls living in rooms at established locations pay a
percentage of their earnings to the employer. Their free
day if they have any is to purchase any needed accessories
or such. Time off is not given to those who have children
but rather that time must be bought, as it is a loss of
earnings to the employer.
Often, justifications are created for retaining documents. In
Belize, one brothel manager stated that such practice was necessary to
prevent them from being robbed from the women and in case of
immigration revisions. An immigration official in Panama attempted to
explain why most bar owners demand documents, citing the need to
secure against the women finding other employment for the duration of
the visa and to guarantee the bar owner's investment.