TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS IN BELIZE - OAS

I. INTRODUCTION
Taking into account that nowadays one of the key issues of the cultural and
sociopolitical agenda in Central America is migration flow, Belize is in a
strategic position, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Mexico, Guatemala
and Honduras. Crossing the borders towards this country has been an historical
feature because it reunites a number of benefits that makes it highly attractive.
It has a relatively good development level, high land and job availability due to
the fact that it is sparsely populated, many natural resources and a good service
structure. In addition to this, Belize has a long and open border particularly
difficult to control and regulate without a large amount of human, technological
and economic resources. This last characteristic has turned the country into an
appealing migratory transit spot towards other final destinies such as the United
States and Mexico.
As every young country, Belize is still building its institutional area. Even though
it has shown a good economic performance, encouraging social indicators and
an institutional web in good progress, the model of a cohesive public policy
system able to react with flexibility when facing new challenges, is still under
construction. Hence, migratory flow towards Belize is, in occasions, a serious
problem that doesn’t find an effective answer neither from the preventive
policies (from migratory or police institutions) nor from the social policies, that
should both confront the strong feelings of rootlessness that entire families
suffer, social risk, vulnerability and violence. It is well known that the attitudes of
abuse towards the needy and the multiplication of human trafficking and
smuggling flourishes in a society where, in addition to the social vulnerability of
the population, the policies are too weak to tackle the intense migratory flow.
Since the United States included Belize in the list of countries (tier number 3)
that don’t comply with the international legislation on human trafficking, this
issue has become increasingly important in the public debate agenda. It is in
this context that the research for this paper was undertaken. And in this context
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