In the summer of 2006 our
Phase One Ecuador Research Team performed the first steps towards a better understanding the current situation of sex trafficking
in Latin America, and the resources
available for victims and countering the actions of traffickers.
Ecuador is primarily a country of origin, transit and destination for trafficked women
and children. The majority of women and children are internally recruited, however, there is evidence pointing to the sexual
exploitation of Colombian refugees being displaced by ongoing conflict.
Aside from poor living conditions
and a lack of employment, women and children become susceptible to trafficking through domestic violence which is more often
caused by compounding economic disparities. A cultural attitude that promotes sexual violence through the media has also been
cited as a contributing factor in the problem of trafficking in Ecuador
as well as other Latin American countries.
The Future Group’s
objective in Ecuador was to perform a needs analysis regarding the extent of trafficking in persons and child labor (including
major trafficking routes) while examining the potential for establishing long term relationships with the NGO community in
the region whose primary efforts are aimed at combating sex trafficking. The primary goal
The team was able to conduct
in-depth interviews with several local and international expert NGOs working in the region. Our team was able to gather significant
information relating to the current efforts of the Government of Ecuador (GOE) and partner NGOs. The majority of these organizations
have their focus directed towards sex trafficking prevention and social justice programs at the local government level. We
have also been able to determine the future needs of trafficked victims in the areas of prevention education, rescue and protection,
recovery and rehabilitation, and reintegration.
The knowledge our team has
accumulated (including understandable challenges, such as an unstable government and lack of concise penal code) and the friendships
established during their visit will serve as the basis for an upcoming anti-sex trafficking project. With the advice and collaboration
of a few of the region’s anti-trafficking experts such as USAID, IOM, ILO, UNIFEM and Fundación Nuestros Jóvenes, The
Future Group is looking to implement a long term sustainable project that is aimed at making the rural and urban communities
of Ecuador trafficking free as well as providing secure protection and rehabilitation shelters for sex trafficked victims,
thus combating the vulnerability of potential victims and strengthening local networks such as family, school systems and
community health clinics to the point of eliminating the porous boundary that traffickers most often exploit in their pursuit
of child victims.
