TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS IN BELIZE - OAS

from the victim, because prostitution, being an illegal practice takes place in
pubs and night clubs. Pimpering, loitering for prostitution, managing a brothel is
illegal, but it is perfectly legal to have a pub or sublet rooms for couples. The
margin to avoid the law is so wide that other kind of controls- sanitary and
social- is also left out.
Sources also say that it is very rare to see minors in these pubs practicing
prostitution. They also admit having seen some situations that could be human
trafficking, but these situations are so disguised in other contexts that it is very
difficult to intervene and define that specific case as trafficking.
Social services confirm that they have faces very few human trafficking cases.
On the other hand, there is a large number of illegal immigrants that cross the
border in transit or with the wish to stay in Belize, they have very little money,
few personal effects and a confusing destiny. They carry serious social troubles:
lack of education, family difficulties and lack of labor training. Many times, social
services can’t cope with these situations.
When detected, human trafficking cases, produce a strong commotion in the
society. This researcher received first hand information on a kidnapping case of
a 13 year old girl from the Estor municipality in the Guatemala district of Izabal.
She was taken to work in Moho River Boon Cree, in Belize’s Toledo District.
According to the official files “on the 22nd July, the minor was selling “tortillas”
at the market. Around 12:00, a woman called NN approached her and asked
where she was working and if she would like to work with her. The minor
answered that she had to ask her parents. They went to the girl’s house where
they found the mother- the father was working. NN offered to pay 700.00
quetzales per month for taking the girl with her to Morales. The mother agreed
under one condition: that she and her husband could go and check on the place
their daughter would go. They made arrangements to meet on the 25th at 8:30.
They finally met at 9:00, NN arrived in a taxi and said that the parents couldn’t
go, that just the girl was to accompany her and promised to call the moment
they arrived.
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