The information collected over the course of this research paints a disturbing picture of criminals acting with near-absolute impunity and an absence of identification, treatment, and protection of victims. Many fora for action, advocacy, and attention are currently under utilized, in part because trafficking in persons has not been placed on the national agenda of most countries in the region. If mobilized, they could generate awareness, help to harmonize data collection from different institutions and countries, contribute research, draft policy and legislative reform, and articulate strategies for victim protection and integration.
This report begins with a description of the study and its
methodology in Part B, which examines the definitions and the
conceptual framework used in the elaboration of investigation and
analysis. Part C offers a socio economic profile of the region and the
general patterns of migration through the territory, which in many ways
inform current trafficking activity. Part D provides an overview of the
characteristics of trafficking in women and children for purposes of
sexual exploitation in the expanded Central American region.
Trafficking routes, risk factors, root causes, conditions and
consequences are all explored. International commitments, national
policies and relevant domestic legislation are analyzed in Part E, along
with identified obstacles to effectively combating trafficking in the
region. Conclusions and recommendations are presented in Parts F and G.
A PROJECT IN THE AMERICAS
Since 1998, the International Human Rights Law Institute
(IHRLI) of DePaul University College of Law has monitored the
rapidly growing problem of trafficking of women and children for
purposes of commercial sexual exploitation. Preliminary studies
revealed a surprising lack of reliable and comprehensive data available
on trafficking, despite increasing international attention to the subject.
In response to this deficiency, IHRLI sought to implement a research
initiative aimed at providing governments, regional bodies,
organizations, and advocates with the information necessary to create
concrete action plans to combat trafficking and its effects worldwide.
The study was conducted in conjuction with the Inter American
Commission of Women and the Inter American Children's Institute of
the OAS.
The Project in the Americas sought information from
government institutions, civil society organizations, academic
institutions, and individuals directly involved and impacted by
trafficking practices in order to present a social, economic, political and
legal analysis of trafficking of women and children for commercial
sexual exploitation.
Thematically, the study explores two distinct
human rights concerns: first, the trafficking of women and children;
and second, commercial sexual exploitation. The broader categories of
trafficking in persons and commercial sexual exploitation (prostitution,
pornography, sex tourism, etc.) have been the subject of recent
international scrutiny and legislation, and many organizations have
dedicated efforts toward looking at the problems individually. IHRLI,
however, decided to adopt a broad focus due to the interrelated nature
of these problems.
In April 2000, after IHRLI had conducted an extensive review
and analysis of relevant laws, treaties and governmental and UN reports
relating to trafficking, IHRLI and the Inter American Commission of
Women hosted a Meeting of Experts to examine the issue of trafficking
in the Americas and to solicit recommendations on a proposed
methodology.
Participants included US government representatives,
experts from non governmental organizations (NGOs) and international
organizations, and officials from OAS agencies and missions. With
contributions from this meeting, a pilot project was developed to study
nine countries: Brazil and an extended Central American sub region
(Belize, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama).