Human Trafficking in [Guyana] [other countries]
Street Children in [Guyana] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [Guyana] [other countries]
 

Human Trafficking & Modern-day Slavery

Co-operative Republic of Guyana [ Country-by-Country Reports ]

The Co-operative Republic of Guyana [map], located in NE South America, is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean (N), by Suriname (E), by Brazil (S & W), and by Venezuela (W). The capital and largest city is Georgetown. Guyana is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere.

Guyana is principally a source country for men, women, and children trafficked within the country for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. Most trafficking takes place in remote mining camps in the country's interior. Amerindian girls from the interior also are trafficked to coastal areas for sexual exploitation, and young Amerindian men are exploited under forced labor conditions in timber camps. In some instances, victims are abducted. Guyanese women and girls are trafficked for sexual exploitation to neighboring countries such as Suriname, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Brazil, and the United States. - U.S. State Dept Trafficking in Persons Report, June, 2007 [full country report]

CAUTION: The following links have been culled from the web to illuminate the situation in Guyana. Some of these links may lead to websites that present allegations that are unsubstantiated or even false. No attempt has been made to validate their authenticity or to verify their content.

U.S. Dept of Labor Bureau of International Labor Affairs

INCIDENCE AND NATURE OF CHILD LABOR - The Guyana Human Rights Association reported that there were cases where girls as young as 11 are recruited to work in bars and restaurants as prostitutes. Children are also engaged in prostitution in ports, gold mining areas, and the capital city of Georgetown. Young women and children are known to be trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation mostly within the country.

Bur of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor - Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005

TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS – The country was a source and destination for trafficked women and children, although most trafficking in persons occurred internally. Trafficking reportedly took place in the interior, where there was little government oversight and law enforcement was lacking. Most trafficking originated in impoverished Amerindian communities, although some victims came from the larger coastal cities. Some women trafficked into the country came from the northern regions of neighboring Brazil. Some were trafficked specifically to work in the timber industry. A smaller number of women were trafficked into Suriname's sex trade. The majority of trafficked women and children were lured to mining camps deep in the interior beyond the reach of law enforcement. Reports indicated that trafficking victims were promised employment as highly paid domestic helpers, cooks, restaurant servers, and nude dancers. The victims were provided with barracks-style housing with cramped quarters and sometimes were locked inside. They were restrained through debt-bondage, intimidation, and physical abuse. Most victims were exposed to the same health risks as prostitutes and other victims of sexual exploitation, including sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) 2004

[49] The Committee expresses its concern at the increasing prevalence of child labour in the State party.

U.S. Report On Human Trafficking Reveals Scope Of Modern-Day Slavery

He said several countries listed in the bottom category last year, including Guyana and Bangladesh, were moved up this year because of remedial steps.

Human trafficking in Barbados and six other Caribbean countries

Human trafficking is a reality in Barbados and some of its Caribbean neighbors, and it’s being reported that some of those people brought illegally into the country are being forced into labor. These findings were made during an exploratory study that examined Barbados, the Bahamas, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, the Netherlands Antilles and Suriname.

Freedom House Country Report - Political Rights: 3 Civil Liberties: 3 Status: Partly Free

Human Rights Overview by Human Rights Watch – Defending Human Rights Worldwide

U.S. Library of Congress - Country Study

ARCHIVES

2004 MOVING UP THE TIERS

2004 Four countries have now taken significant steps to fight trafficking to avoid sanctions

2004 Bangladesh, Ecuador, Guyana, and Sierra Leone updated to Tier 2 Watch List, 9/10/04

2004 Guyana shocked at its listing among the world's worst abusers of women and children

2004 [#309] Guyana determined to combat TIP

2004 Guyana introduces legislation to fight trafficking in persons

2003 FEATURES: [scroll down] Guyana Combats Human Trafficking

Human Trafficking in [Guyana] [other countries]
Street Children in [Guyana] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [Guyana] [other countries]