samerica1

Brief evaluation of the trafficking and prostitution situation in Latin American and the
Caribbean
In order to evaluate, briefly and objectively, the situation regarding prostitution and
trafficking in women in Latin America and the Caribbean, we must consider the
commitments agreed to by the different governments and the international community at
the Copenhagen Summit as well as at the Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women.
Then we must establish which commitments have been met, and come up with some
conclusions regarding the quality of life for women and girls within the region.
Regarding sexual exploitation and its implications, the first indicator that must be
considered is the Total Foreign Debt. As the commonality affecting most countries, this
factor is the main link between poverty and women’s situation. Governments' political good
will indicators show that this situation has not changed. The number of women heads of
household is more visible and is increasing. Full employment is not a priority in economic
and social policies; thus free choices for a secure life style for women are restricted. We
are finding ever-increasing numbers of women and girls in prostitution as a way to survive.
Unemployment rates increase very fast. There are no social welfare plans or alternatives to
discourage migration from the rural areas.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) policies and the impact of global economy
measures have benefited the sex industry. Privatization and tourism development ensure
that those countries looking for development will also find sex tourism, along with the
exploitation of natural resources and the loss of national sovereignty.
Regarding the Action Plan agreed on the Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women, no
country has met objective No. 4 Violence against Women: "to eliminate the trafficking in
women, and to give assistance to women victims of prostitution and trafficking." Tabloids
quite often report how the police regularly and brutally raid brothels, bars, and nightclubs
and detain women who are being sexually exploited. There is no respect, promotion or
protection of women’s human rights, on the contrary the same law and order enforcement
officers violate these rights. There is no protection for the women and children victims of
exploitation, trafficking and child prostitution. Otherwise, international networks involved in
these practices would not gain ground. The number of cases of women and children victims
of such crimes has continued to increase, including sex tourism and pornography within
South America, and also in other world regions. The most talked about pornography
scandal recently is the Paris incident in which Colombian children were used in the making
of pornography videos. After a few days, it stopped being in headlines, so that those
responsible can go free, and in this way the patriarchal banner continues to fly in impunity.
Governments will not take on board violence against women as a factor that contributes to
social disintegration, let alone the fact that sexual exploitation constitutes violence and a
violation of women’s human rights. In addition, women’s health is seriously compromised
due to inadequate preventative health programs, the decline in the number of free medical
services, and the high cost of private medical care. The incidence of teenage pregnancies
in girls younger than 15 years of age is ever growing and could become a social problem,
especially since many countries do not have Women’s sexual and reproductive health
programs.
The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women suggests that governments, which are not
observing international agreements, should be penalized, as they are violating women’s
human rights. Prostitution and trafficking in women and girl prostitution in Latin America
and the Caribbean has increased alarmingly. NGOs working in these areas suffer from lack
of resources, which makes their work more difficult.
It is important to highlight that after the "Seminar Against the Sexual Exploitation of Children
and Adolescents in the Americas," in Brasilia in April 1996, now called "The Brasilia
Seminar," only two countries have responded responsibly in designing strategies to deal
with child prostitution. These countries are Argentina and Brazil. Here there has been the
political will to take on board difficult problems. Tourism promotion in Brazil reflects changes
such as campaigns to prevent AIDS and HIV, rejection of child prostitution, police stations
with special remit, and national help lines dealing with these problems. In Argentina the
National Council for Minors and the Family (Consejo Nacional del Menor y Ia Familia) has
mobilized resources, including legislators, judges, educators, doctors to bring about the
required changes by offering support and assistance to children who have been