The selection of countries from the Caribbean and Central America for the IHRLI-led study was complicated by the large number of countries to choose from and their many differences. In consultation with experts, IHRLI identified eight countries in which to begin concentrated investigations: Belize, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. These countries were chosen for the perceived nexus among them in terms of regional organizations, geographical proximity, and other factors. Studying them individually and as a group also allowed researchers to develop a detailed understanding of trafficking on the national level, as well as the interrelationship among the countries. At this stage, IHRLI turned to the Inter American Commission of Women of the Organization of American States (OAS) to seek its involvement in the study. After agreeing to IHRLI's proposal and its partial funding, the commission suggested involving the Inter- American Children's Institute of the OAS, which also joined in sponsorship.
Prior to conducting field investigations, IHRLI and the
commission hosted a Meeting of Experts in April 2000 to consult with
individuals, organizations, and government representatives on the
viability of the study and the methodological framework. Over sixty
experts from non governmental organizations (NGO) and government
participated in the meeting. Several important contributions were made
by participants that advanced the implementation of the project in the
region. The transcripts of several of the addresses made at the meeting
can be found in the Appendix to this report.
While carrying out this project, IHRLI also sought to generate
local interest and ownership so as to secure a network of actors at the
national and regional level who would be committed to turning
research findings into action.
Toward that end, IHRLI selected NGO
counterparts to act as country coordinators in the following states:
Costa Rica Inter American Legal Services in Human Rights
(Servicios Interamericanos de Abogados en Derechos Humanos);
Dominican Republic CIPAF (Centro de Investigación para la Accion
Femenina); El Salvador FESPAD (Fundación de Estudios para la
Aplicación de Derecho); Guatemala PRONICE (Pro Niños y Niñas
Centroamericanos); Nicaragua INPRHU (Instituto Nicaragüense de
Promoción Humana); Panama Casa Esperanza; and, finally,
Brazil Reference Center for Studies and Actions in Favor of Children
and Adolescents (Centro de Referência, Estudos e Ações Sobre
Crianças e Adolescentes: CECRIA). The National Committee for
Families and Children in Belize and Alternativas y Oportunidades in
Honduras contributed to early project activities.
In many instances, these organizations brought numerous
other groups into the project. In Brazil, for example, the project
benefited from the participation of over 130 NGOs and academic
institutions. We are grateful to these organizations and to their staff
who worked with us on this project.
Because Brazil was also deemed an important focal point, a
special project was implemented by IHRLI's Brazilian counterpart
CECRIA (Centro De Referência, Estudos E Acoes Sobre Crianças E
Adolescentes), with the assistance of dozens of local partners and
research contributors. A comprehensive five region study was
conducted following the same research methodology. CECRIA's
findings and conclusions were published in 2003 in a separate report
Study on Trafficking in Women, Children and Adolescents for
Commercial Sexual Exploitation in Brazil: National Report. Included
in this Second Edition of In Modern Bondage is a summary report on
Brazil prepared by IHRLI Executive Director David E. Guinn, which
distills and highlights CECRIA's findings.
Over the course of the study, the project developed and
evolved in its learning drawing knowledge from the many researchers
and investigators who participated in the effort. The project greatly
benefited from the assistance and support of the OAS Country Offices
and the Principal Delegates of the Inter American Commission of
Women in the countries under study. Important contributions were also
made by government officials, as well as representatives of
international organizations both in and outside the region, through their
advice and insights. In particular, IHRLI is grateful for the open
discussions that were possible with numerous government officials in
the region who demonstrated their governments concern for the
problem of trafficking in women and children for the purposes of
commercial sexual exploitation, not only in appreciation of its criminal
nature, but also, and above all, for its human dimension.
Now, in 2005, IHRLI continues its work in the area of sex
trafficking. Its Worldwide Trafficking Project is ongoing, with
approximately twenty five DePaul law students having contributed
research since its start. IHRLI staff persons routinely participate in
public conferences and discussions on trafficking and give talks in the
United States and abroad. In 2004, IHRLI published Spanish language
and comprehensive national-study versions of this report: Esclavitud
Moderna: Tráfico Sexual en las America and In Modern Bondage: A
National and Regional Overview, respectively. And, in 2003 and 2004,
IHRLI paired with the LA based trafficking group Captive Daughters
to present two conferences examining the demand side of sex
trafficking. The proceedings of the first conference were compiled by
IHRLI and made available on our online Publications Catalogue at
www.ihrli.org. The proceedings of the second conference, which
examined the role of pornography in sex trafficking, will also soon be
available online.
This Second Edition of In Modern Bondage: Sex Trafficking
in the Americas affords us another opportunity to raise awareness of
this global human rights epidemic that attaches itself to the most
exploitable and weaker elements of society. It also highlights, by the
example of the Americas, how trafficking reaches and affects every
nation in the world. This book is reprinted in the hope that its findings
will help NGOs and governments better address this global problem.
Chicago
September 23, 2005
M. Cherif Bassiouni
Distinguished Research
Professor of Law; President,
IHRLI