A. Country Overviews
Belize: Despite the lack of prosecutions, government
representatives (health, immigration, law enforcement) and
consulates reported trafficking of women and minors from
Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. Occasional
arrests and deportations of trafficked women occur for immigration
violations following police raids of brothels.
Costa Rica: Trafficking of women and minors occurs from
Colombia and the Dominican Republic. Minimal trafficking from
Nicaragua appears to exist, although its incidence may be obscured
by the general migration flow, which is significant. Rumors of
trafficking from Thailand and Eastern Europe were documented.
Significant internal trafficking of Costa Rican minors for sexual
near tourist points and ports.
Dominican Republic: International trafficking of women from the
Dominican Republic to Argentina, Costa Rica, Panama, nearby
Caribbean islands (St. Martin, Curacao), and Europe is widely
recognized. Internal trafficking of minors for sexual exploitation
from the interior to tourist areas occurs, and some trafficking cases
of Dominican and Haitian girls along the border also have been
reported.
El Salvador: Women and children are trafficked to El Salvador
from Nicaragua and Honduras. Some transit of women and minors
to Guatemala and other northern points occurs. Salvadorans
themselves are also victims of trafficking to Guatemala and
Mexico. Most of the recent prosecutions have been under new
general smuggling legislation, which does not distinguish or
specifically contemplate situations of trafficking.
Guatemala: The rate of trafficking into, within, and out of
Guatemala is alarming. Strong border controls by Mexico, a high
level of corruption, and a large number of migrants seeking
opportunities to travel north foster conditions that allow for
trafficking. In addition to the usual method of trafficking through
false promises of work ending in forced prostitution, female
migrants who may have arrived independently or with assistance
of smugglers are coerced into prostitution. Immigration and police
have increased arrests for smuggling, but identification of
trafficking cases is not pursued.
Honduras: Honduran nationals are trafficked to the neighboring
states of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Belize and then on to
Mexico and the United States. Trafficking from Nicaragua also
passes through Honduras. Internal trafficking for purposes of
sexual exploitation occurs from interior points to the northern coast
cities of San Pedro Sula, Puerto Cortes, Tela, and La Ceiba, among
others. Few trafficking or procuring cases reach the justice system.
Nicaragua: A strong trafficking route to the north begins in
Nicaragua. Researchers documented cases of trafficking to El
Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize. Young women and
girls leave with promises of jobs in hotels, as domestics, factory
workers, etc. Some cases have been reported and investigated, but
weaknesses in the justice system have resulted in delays,
dismissals and lack of follow up. Victims are often unwilling to
participate in judicial proceedings due to fear of reprisal and lack
of confidence in the judicial system.
Panama: Women and girls are trafficked from the Dominican
Republic and Colombia to Panama. In recent years, prosecutors
investigated a case of Panamanian women and girls being
trafficked to Israel. Trafficking assumes a cover of legality under a
visa program for "alternadoras" (escorts), which is managed by
the Directorate of Migration and the Ministry of Labor. In 2000,
over 700 women from Colombia were granted such visa for
temporary work.
While female migrants may be aware of the type
of work they will be entering, deception as to the conditions of
work is common. In theory, these women work under a contract
and can seek protection under local labor laws. The exploitation
and abuse, however, is consistent with situations of trafficking
documents are seized, women have no freedom of movement or
access to earnings, and many work under threat of deportation.