at 12:19 AM Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The U.S. State Department has just released its 2009 Trafficking in
Persons Report, which lists Cuba as one of 17 nations in the lowest
possible category, Tier 3. According to the report:
Cuba is principally a source of women and children trafficked within the
country for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. Some Cuban
children are reportedly pushed into prostitution by their families,
exchanging sex for money, food, or gifts. Cuban nationals voluntarily
migrate illegally to the United States, and there have been reports that
some are subjected to forced labor or forced prostitution by their
smugglers. The full scope of trafficking within Cuba is difficult to
gauge due to the closed nature of the government and sparse
nongovernmental or independent reporting. State-run hotel workers,
travel employees, cab drivers, and police steer some tourists to women
and children in prostitution – including trafficking victims – though
this appears to be on the decline.
The Government of Cuba does not fully comply with the minimum standards
for the elimination of trafficking, and is not making significant
efforts to do so. It is difficult to assess the true extent of
trafficking in Cuba. Observation and independent reports suggest that
the Cuban government is taking steps to address the problem of child sex
tourism, though this information cannot be verified. The government will
not release information about anti-trafficking activities it may have
engaged in during the past year, viewing U.S. attempts to engage
officials on trafficking issues as politically motivated.
Recommendations for Cuba: Acknowledge that child sex trafficking in Cuba
is a problem; provide greater legal protections and assistance for
victims; develop procedures to identify possible trafficking victims
among vulnerable populations; increase anti-trafficking training for law
enforcement; and take greater steps to prevent the trafficking of
children in prostitution.
Capitol Hill Cubans (17 June 2009)
http://www.capitolhillcubans.com/
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