Structural causes in Mexico Human trafficking in Texas

mexico s social instability has helped feed burgeoning human trafficking trade u.s. between 2000 , 2002, approximately 135,000 children in mexico kidnapped, presumably exploitation in prostitution, pornography, or illegal adoption trafficking. estimated there around 16,000 children engaged in prostitution in mexico.

map of mexico

while sex work not legal in mexico, cities have zonas de tolerancia (areas prostitution allowed), , has made mexico huge destination sex tourism , 1 of world s largest hubs sex trafficking. high profitability of prostitution in mexico has inevitably led forcible exploitation of many girls sex workers. mexico on tier 2 watch list of state department s annual trafficking in persons report, designation given countries not meet minimum standards of trafficking victims protection reauthorization act of 2003 (tvpra), still making efforts comply these guidelines. 1 of reasons given designation mexico s thriving child sex trafficking industry- there 16,000 20,000 mexican , central american children being trafficked sex in mexico. significant reason mexico s lack of commitment anti-trafficking efforts on national level , complete absence of national anti-trafficking law. governmental ineffectiveness , rampant corruption has corroded trust in mexican government, evident in declining rate of crime reporting in border regions of mexico.

running away home 1 of largest risk factors eventual exploitation , trafficking of both children , adults. there variety of reasons mexico s large number of runaways, including domestic violence (whether directed @ them or @ other family members), parental substance abuse, other family dysfunctions such extreme poverty, or constant sexual abuse perpetrated people @ home or in community, of make home unpleasant living environment. large consequence of running away halting of formal education, leaving runaways untrained jobs other sex work. because these children lack social support society, government, or family, vulnerable exploitation pimps , traffickers, conceal true intentions providing these runaways , pretending care them. lack of social or medical support leads development of drug addictions among runaways coping mechanism, many pimps , traffickers taking advantage of addiction.

many of trafficked persons mexico end in u.s. teen mothers. despite fact many of these pregnancies result of rape members of community or family, thrown out of homes , receive little no social support society or government. consequence, these girls not able complete education, giving them few options employment. because receive little or no financial support fathers, many of whom desert them following pregnancy, , because typically have incomplete educations, these girls have no other option turn prostitution in order provide both , children. in situations, traffickers or pimps provide assistance pregnant girls, later leverage coerce them sex work. in other situations, traffickers use child coerce mothers sex work, either threatening abuse towards child or withholding child mother.

one of major factors leading creation of mexico s extensive trafficking industry (and consequent overflow texas) widespread sexual assaults of indigenous women during central american civil wars of 1980s. thousands of poor women, rural areas, raped during el salvadorean , nicaraguan civil wars army personnel , civil police. subsequently shunned communities tainted , ruined, leading many of them migrate north escape family shame , war-time conditions.