Costa Rica

A focus on human trafficking

Catherine Brackett, Adriana Fernandez, Spencer Hosch, Sam Laughlin, Megan Prater, Jordy Tshimanga

About Costa Rica

Relies heavily on tourism to sustain economy

Beaches, resorts and prostitution

Religion

Roman Catholicism, Evangelical Protestants

Education

6% of GDP goes towards education

96% of the population is literate
Primary and secondary are free and required of all
citizens

Types of Trafficking
Labor
Sex
Child
Forced labor, sexual exploitation, child sex tourism, and
forced prostitution are the main issues in Costa Rica.

Forced Labor Trafficking

Forcing children and abducted persons to
conduct strenuous labor with little or no
pay

In costa Rica forced labor is primarily in the

industries of:
Coffee
Cattle

Sex Trafficking
Most evident form of trafficking in Costa
Rica
Due to its high rate of tourism

Draws people to come and purchase sex and

sexual acts

Draws future trafficking victims in too work for

what will eventually be their trafficker

Child Trafficking

Parents may sell their children as a source of

income to traffickers for means of labor and/or
sex
Some may rent out child
Children may also flee to Costa Rica with hopes
of finding work in this tourism derived country
Some traffickers will contact the child and
promise them a job, and then traffic them

Efforts to Make Change

The National Coalition against Migrant Smuggling and

Trafficking in Persons
Meets quarterly and plans the government's
anti-trafficking activities for the year
Distributed brochures and posters and held public
events
To increase awareness to the dangers of sex
trafficking and contributing to the purchasing and
selling of slaves
Quasi-governmental agency
Held training sessions on how to fight to end child sex
tourism
Partnered up with international partners to keep
registered sex offenders from entering the country

Protection
According to 2013 TIP Report, Costa Rica had maintained
efforts to identify and assist trafficking victims

Continue their immediate attention protocol

NGOs and some governmental officials asserted that
protocol was not implemented in a very timely fashion; must
work to expedite the process
Work to increase funding for shelters and group homes for
trafficking survivors

Prevention
According to 2013 TIP Report, Costa Rica had thoroughly
increased efforts for prevention

Worked with National Anti-Trafficking Coalition

Worked together to pass new laws
Implement national action plan
Continued to investigate and convict individuals who
voluntarily paid for sexual favors from trafficking victims

Prosecution
Continue investigating current human trafficking cases
Increase conviction rate and punishments of traffickers

Too many cases of human trafficking are either dropped or

forgotten with the current legislation of Costa Rica

Discover new cases of human trafficking

Sex Trafficking
Forced Labor

Role of Media
Inform

Half the Sky Movement

Tico Times
La Nacion

An Example

If traffickers are prosecuted in the face of the

public, this will lead to more fearing the
punishments of these acts.

Safe Houses & Non-profits That

Are Making a Difference

A Safehouse for Girls Who Were Victims

@Casa_Milagro
@CasaMilagroFoundation

Helps Victims and Their Families

@fundacionrahab
@Fundacion_Rahab
@FundacionRahab

Works with Youth to Prevent and Combat

Sexual Exploitation/Trafficking, Drugs, Alcohol, & Violence
@seedsofhopehome
@SeedsofHopeHome
@SeedsofHopeHomes

How can we solve this together?

Raising awareness and making
examples of consequences for
traffickers are the two most important
ways to solve this problem.
Increasing public awareness and signs of human
trafficking is an important piece of any
anti-trafficking prevention strategy, and to date has
been the primary prevention measure used by
governments and other stakeholders. -2016 TIP report