Human Trafficking in [Belize Street Children in [Belize] [other countries]Child Prostitution in [Belize] [other countries] |
Human Trafficking & Modern-day Slavery In the
early years of the 21st Century - 2000 to 2010 gvnet.com/humantrafficking/Belize.htm
Belize is a source, transit, and destination country for
men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation
and forced labor. The most common form of trafficking in |
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CAUTION: The following links have been culled
from the web to illuminate the situation in *** FEATURED
ARTICLE *** Jacqueline Godwin for News Five, April 26, 2006 edition.channel5belize.com/archives/9445 [accessed 22 January 2011] SAID MUSA, PRIME MINISTER - “ ***
ARCHIVES *** The Department of Labor’s 2004 Findings on the Worst Forms
of Child Labor www.dol.gov/ilab/media/reports/iclp/tda2004/belize.htm [accessed 22 January 2011] INCIDENCE
AND NATURE OF CHILD LABOR - Human Rights Reports » 2005
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/61716.htm [accessed 22 January 2011] TRAFFICKING
IN PERSONS – During
the year the government's efforts to identify trafficking victims were
weakened by inadequate investigation and inspection by authorities. There
were no reliable estimates of the extent of trafficking. There were reports
that women were trafficked to the country from neighboring countries
primarily for prostitution and nude dancing. Victims generally lived in
squalid conditions in the bars where they worked. Some bar owners reportedly
confiscated victims' passports. Agents of the bars and brothels lured women
and girls to the country, and they or taxi drivers along the border delivered
women to brothels. There were reports of persons
trafficked for labor purposes, including instances of Chinese immigrants
being forced to work in local Chinese-owned sweatshops and of children
working in activities such as shining shoes or selling newspapers at kiosks.
Members of the East Indian community also trafficked persons from Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of
the Child (CRC) UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, 28 January 2005 www1.umn.edu/humanrts/crc/belize2005.html [accessed 22 January 2011] [67] The Committee welcomes the
adoption in 2003 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Act, which
provides special protection for children, and the subsequent establishment of
a special Task Force to give greater effect to the implementation of the Act,
and notes the State party’s efforts to combat sexual exploitation of
children, for instance, through the “Stamp Out Child Abuse” campaign.
Notwithstanding these positive steps taken by the State party, the Committee
is concerned about the sexual exploitation of children, child pornography and
trafficking of children in Human Trafficking Concerns in the Commonwealth Caribbean:
the 2009 Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) [accessed 22 January 2011] 6. THE CARIBBEAN IN FOCUS - 1. Belize is a source, transit,
and destination country for people (including children) trafficked for the
purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labour. Internal trafficking for
sexual exploitation is also a concern, especially when poorer families often
feel obliged or, pressured to compel girls to engage in sexual activity in
exchange for payment. 2. In 2008 Belize was placed in
Tier 2, however, the 2009 TIP Report has moved Belize into the Watch List
category largely in response to its failure to prosecute human trafficking
offences properly. The government of Belize has made significant efforts to
raise awareness and increase efforts of prevention and protection. For
example, there has been increased anti-trafficking training made available
for police and social workers. There are also government sponsored
residential care facilities available for victims of trafficking and the
government is supportive of local anti-trafficking NGOs. The prosecution of offenders
however remains inadequate and the Report found disturbing incidences of
official involvement in trafficking, often associated with corruption. 3. Human trafficking is prohibited
under Belize domestic law by the Trafficking in Persons Prohibition Act of
2003. Punishment for those prosecuted under this act constitutes one to five
years of imprisonment and a $5,000 fine. Tough as these penalties are, they
are not proportionate to penalties for other serious criminal offences such
as rape, which carries a penalty of eight years to life imprisonment. The
laws are also not adequately enforced and there were no convictions last year
despite a number of cases being brought to trial. As it currently stands one
prosecution was dismissed, two remain pending and another pending appeal. Janelle Chanona, Reporting, News
5, September 28, 2006 channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=17114 [accessed 22 January 2011] The Musa administration is tonight breathing a sigh
of relief following an announcement by the In June Belize was one
of six countries placed on a Tier Three list by the Organization team up to fight trafficking in persons Love FM, August 21, 2006 www.lovefm.com/ndisplay.php?nid=4552 [accessed 22 January 2011] Several organizations have teamed
up to fight trafficking in persons or human trafficking in O.A.S. trains officials to fight human trafficking Jacqueline Godwin, reporting, News 5, August 01, 2006 channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=16744 [accessed 22 January 2011] The training of trainers
session will arm the participants--mainly law enforcement officials--with the
information to help them be able to identify victims and perpetrators of the
crime. The police, customs and immigration officers are then expected to
include the training in their work place. This latest initiative—aside from
being the right thing to do--is also one more effort to get Belize off the
tier three list established by the U.S. Department of State in its annual
investigation into worldwide human trafficking. Is progress being made?
Police Commissioner Gerald Westby believes the answer is yes. Annual Report Of Activities By The Anti-Trafficking In
Persons Section Of The Organization Of American States - April 2005 To March
2006 [DOC] Inter-American Commission Of Women, Organization Of American
States, 27 March 2006 www.procuraduria.gov.do/PGR.NET/RemjaVI/Informes/Ingles.doc [accessed 22 January 2011] Immigration director’s cousin arrested for trafficking News 5, July 28, 2006 channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=16718 [accessed 22 January 2011] Esquivel's story is that her
employer, Zetina, had initially hired her to work
in a restaurant. But shortly after her arrival in Corozal,
she was repeatedly asked to sexually satisfy male patrons at the Caracol Bar. Esquivel claims she said no to the requests,
but that Zetina refused to pay her for her work.
When she went to a friend to get help, Esquivel says she was ambushed and
beaten by persons believed to be acting on her boss's behalf. Extra House businessman busted on alleged human
trafficking Angel Novelo, The Reporter,
30.06.2006 www.reporter.bz/index.php?mod=archive&act=view&article=1248 [Last accessed 22 January 2011] A There have been widespread reports
of several Indian and Chinese businesses operating across the country known
to bring these individuals in to work while witholding
their travel documents. P.M. rebuts News 5, June 07, 2006 channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=16388 [accessed 22 January 2011] SAID MUSA, PRIME MINISTER - “That Belize is now lumped and
almost put in a box so to speak with, Jacqueline Godwin for News Five, April 26, 2006 edition.channel5belize.com/archives/9445 [accessed 22 January 2011] SAID MUSA, PRIME MINISTER - “ Salvadoran child may be victim of human trafficking News 5, April 28, 2006 channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=16140 [accessed 22 January 2011] But what would a small Salvadoran
be doing in The Protection Project - The www.protectionproject.org/human_rights_reports/report_documents/belize.doc [accessed 2009] FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE
TRAFFICKING INFRASTRUCTURE - Throughout the Central American region, “machismo” attitudes are
prevalent, and women are often viewed as sexual objects. Interfamily
violence, the breakdown of families, and poverty push young people to leave
their homes and communities to search for better lives. FORMS OF TRAFFICKING - Many of the teenage girls and children
trafficked into the country from neighboring Central American countries are
forced to work in domestic service, as bar maids, and in prostitution. Freedom House Country Report - Political Rights: 1 Civil Liberties: 2 Status: Free 2009 Edition www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=363&year=2009&country=7567 [accessed 22 January 2011] Library of Congress Call Number F2368 .G893 1993 lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/bztoc.html [accessed 22 January 2011] All material used herein
reproduced under the fair use exception of 17 USC § 107 for noncommercial,
nonprofit, and educational use. PLEASE
RESPECT COPYRIGHTS OF COMPONENT ARTICLES.
Cite this webpage as: Patt, Prof. Martin, "Human Trafficking
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Human Trafficking in [Belize Street Children in [Belize] [other countries]Child Prostitution in [Belize] [other countries]