Costa Rica is located in
Central America, with Nicaragua bordering the country to the North and
Panama to the South. Costa Rica is a geographically small country with
a population of over 4.5 million.
Teeming with biological diversity, beautiful beaches and rainforests, tourism has boomed as one of the country's major industries over the past decade and a half. Along with this boom Costa Rica has also developed a major sex tourism industry. Many sex tourists arrive with the intention of purchasing sex with minors, and unfortunately this transaction is still all too easy. These children, boys and girls, are not only from Costa Rica, but from all over the world. Many have been victims of trafficking.
Until June of 2012, Costa Rica was considered a "Tier 3" country on the United States Human Trafficking Watch List.
Those countries considered Tier 1 are countries whose governments fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s (TVPA) minimum standards, while Tier 2 countries are those whose governments do not fully comply with the TVPA’s minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards.
TIER 3 countries are those whose governments do not fully comply with the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so.
According to the State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons Report, as of June 19th, 2012, Costa Rica moved from a "Tier 3" to a "Tier 2" country.
This change reflects ongoing efforts in Costa Rica to educate and fight against the trafficking of humans, but does not negate the fact that everyday in Costa Rica children are still sold for sex, and in very visible places. These children still lack basic rights to safety, agency, and control over their bodies. Their pain and trauma is very real. Their wounds are real, and they need safe places to heal.
Teeming with biological diversity, beautiful beaches and rainforests, tourism has boomed as one of the country's major industries over the past decade and a half. Along with this boom Costa Rica has also developed a major sex tourism industry. Many sex tourists arrive with the intention of purchasing sex with minors, and unfortunately this transaction is still all too easy. These children, boys and girls, are not only from Costa Rica, but from all over the world. Many have been victims of trafficking.
Until June of 2012, Costa Rica was considered a "Tier 3" country on the United States Human Trafficking Watch List.
Those countries considered Tier 1 are countries whose governments fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s (TVPA) minimum standards, while Tier 2 countries are those whose governments do not fully comply with the TVPA’s minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards.
TIER 3 countries are those whose governments do not fully comply with the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so.
According to the State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons Report, as of June 19th, 2012, Costa Rica moved from a "Tier 3" to a "Tier 2" country.
This change reflects ongoing efforts in Costa Rica to educate and fight against the trafficking of humans, but does not negate the fact that everyday in Costa Rica children are still sold for sex, and in very visible places. These children still lack basic rights to safety, agency, and control over their bodies. Their pain and trauma is very real. Their wounds are real, and they need safe places to heal.
If you wish to contribute to this cause, email: Houseohealing@gmail.com with your contact info and someone will contact you.
God Bless
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