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Sex trafficking in El Salvador
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Sex trafficking in El Salvador is human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and slavery that occurs in the Republic of El Salvador. It is a country of origin, transit, and destination for sexually trafficked persons.[1]
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El Salvador citizens and foreigners, primarily women and girls, are sex trafficked to the different departments of El Salvador, as well as other countries, namely Mexico[2] and the United States.[3] The illegal transporting and sexual assault of migrants from Latin America to the United States is a problem. The majority of foreign victims of sex trafficking in El Salvador come from Honduras, Nicaragua, and Guatemala.[1] Children, [4][5][6] deported migrants,[7] and people in poverty[2][4][5] are especially vulnerable to sex trafficking. Incidents have involved child pornography and sex tourism.[6] Sex trafficked victims are deceived[1][2][5][8] or abducted[2] and forced into prostitution and unfree labour.[2][7] They are guarded or locked up in brothels, homes, and other locations. Some are forced into marriages[2][6] or pregnancies, and victims' babies have been sold. They are threatened[2][4][5] and physically and psychologically abused.[2] Victims have been tortured and murdered.[2] Their family members are sometimes threatened.[7] Victims contract sexually transmitted diseases from rapes without condoms.[2] They have been deprived of water[6] and other necessities and often live in poor and dirty conditions.[9] A number are drugged while in captivity.[2] Others are forced to get tattoos or breast implants.[2] Victims experience mental health problems, including depression, suicidal thoughts, and persecutory delusions.[2][7] Victims have participated in investigations and trials against their traffickers.[2] Sex crimes against women and girls, such as these, are a form of gender inequality in El Salvador.
Sex trafficking and exploitation have permeated all levels of Salvadorian society. Traffickers have been male and female. A number of traffickers are members of or facilitated by gangs and transnational criminal organizations.[2][4][7][9] Government officials and workers and police have been complicit and corruption and impunity[6] are issues.[2][10] Anti-sex trafficking efforts in the country have been criticized for being unsatisfactory.[6]
The scale of sex trafficking in El Salvador is not known because of the dearth of data.[7] Government anti-sex trafficking efforts and protections for citizens have been criticized for being insufficient.[4] Law enforcement is hindered by limited operating budgets and resources. [5] Victim care and rehabilitation programmes are lacking.[7]