Belize

Belize

Belize is a beautiful country with a diverse landscape and cultural background. Once home to ancient Mayan civilizations, Belize has seen a whirlwind of influences from European explorers and settlers, like the British, Spanish, and Garifuna communities. Belize's natural landscapes, from lush rainforests to pristine coral reefs, provide a backdrop for diverse experiences, attracting visitors from around the globe to explore and appreciate the unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Sadly, Belize also struggles with trafficking and exploitation. Human trafficking and exploitation persist as pressing issues in Belize, casting a shadow over the nation's otherwise vibrant landscape. Despite efforts to combat these crimes, Belize continues to grapple with instances of trafficking for both labor and sexual exploitation. Trafficking into the tourism sectors and familial trafficking, trafficking that occurs in homes and small communities, continues to be a major problem. Vulnerable populations, including women, children, and migrants, are particularly at risk of falling victim to these heinous acts. Traffickers often prey on their desperation, luring them with false promises of employment or opportunities, only to subject them to exploitation and abuse later on.

“Human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Belize, and traffickers exploit victims from Belize abroad.”

“Groups considered most at risk for trafficking in Belize include women, children and, in particular, girls, migrants, those experiencing economic difficulties, including pandemic-related unemployment, agricultural workers, and LGBTQI+ persons.  Sex traffickers exploit Belizean and foreign adults, girls, and LGBTQI+ persons, primarily from Central America, in bars, nightclubs, hotels, and brothels.  During the pandemic, sex trafficking mostly moved to more tightly controlled, illegal brothels rather than bars and clubs – which were closed from March 2020 to March 2022 – and involved a network of taxi operators who provided a connection between those involved in commercial sex and patrons; the change made reporting more difficult as the commercial sex trade moved further underground, into private residences.” 

“Tourism-related industries lure laborers through the offer of legitimate service jobs and exploit them in sex trafficking.  These illicit operations are typically small in scale and unconnected to organized transnational trafficking rings.”

“Family members facilitate the sex trafficking of Belizean women and girls, including through an arrangement where a wealthy male will offer payment or gifts to a family in exchange for sex from a young, usually female, family member.  This practice expanded to Guatemalan victims unable to pay school fees in Belize.”