Child Trafficking Soars
in Guatemala
Child trafficking has
become pretty common in
Guatemala whose laws are
not strong enough to
fight the scourge.
Humanitarian
organizations like the
non governmental
organization "End Child
Prostitution,
Pornography and
Trafficking" call the
Guatemalan-Mexican
border a staple area for
the trade.
Maria Eugenia Villareal,
member of the NGO, said
girls aged eight to
fourteen are sold as sex
slaves or used in risky
sectors like garbage
collection and
classification, peddling
and construction.
Most victims -from
Guatemala, Honduras,
Nicaragua and El
Salvador- are misled
with promises to travel
to the US yet they are
taken to different
Mexican cities,
including the capital.
Attorney Alex Colop
calls serious problem
the absence of laws with
severe sanctions for
such practices since the
perpetrators walk free
on bail or pay a fine.
In addition, the
children do not press
charges fearing threats
from the exploiters or
to loose their income
source. |
|
