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There are 50,000 women from the Dominican Republic overseas in the sex industry
- the fourth highest number in the world, after Thailand, Brazil and the Philippines.
("Trafficking in Women From the Dominian Republic for Sexual Exploitation,"
IOM, June 1996)
Approximately 10% of the 500-600 visas issued to Dominican nationals from
the Netherlands each year are for prostitution. ("Trafficking in Women From
the Dominican Republic for Sexual Exploitation," IOM, June 1996)
Women from the Dominican Republic are trafficked to Spain, Italy, Austria
and the Netherlands. ("Trafficking of Women to the European Union: Characteristics,
Trends and Policy Issues," European Conference on Trafficking in Women, (June
1996), IOM, 7 May 1996)
The main concentrations of prostituted Dominican women working abroad are
in Austria, Curacao, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Italy, the Netherlands, Panama,
Puerto Rico, Spain, Switzerland, Venezuela and the West Indies. ("Trafficking
in Women From the Dominican Republic for Sexual Exploitation," IOM,
June 1996)
The majority of Dominican prostituted women report two main objectives for
being in the sex industry abroad: those with children said it was a financial
necessity to feed and raise their children; and those without children said
it was to buy a home for their parents. For most of the trafficked women,
the husband, father or boyfriend accepted that they travel without ever clarifying
exactly what king of job would be performed. And it was usually the husband,
father or boyfriend who would receive the remittances from the women abroad.
("Trafficking in Women From the Dominican Republic for Sexual Exploitation,"
IOM, June 1996)
The average age of women when they make their first trip abroad is between
24 and 28. The average education level was completion of primary school. ("Trafficking
in Women From the Dominican Republic for Sexual Exploitation," IOM,
June 1996)
Some of the women who returned to the Dominican Republic were deported by
the police. Some women found a way to escape from the traffickers and returned,
with the help of friends. Many trafficked women cannot return home because
they do not have the financial means; they have no savings, are drug or alcohol-dependent,
or are in prison. ("Trafficking in Women From the Dominican Republic for Sexual
Exploitation," IOM, June 1996)
Most of the trafficked women said if they had known their fate, they would
never have gone. Only a minority of the women was able to save money to bring
back home with them. The amounts varying from US$300 (the Netherlands) to
US$10,000 (Switzerland) after almost one year in the sex industry. Some women
who returned after sending money are welcomed home. Their new clothes and
jewelry, or their family’s new or improved house was an advertisement for
other young women to go abroad. ("Trafficking in Women From the Dominican
Republic for Sexual Exploitation," IOM, June 1996)
Methods and Techniques of Trafficking
Girls are lured into marriages under false pretenses, then end up being prostituted
or sold by their "husband." ("Trafficking in Women From the Dominican Republic
for Sexual Exploitation," IOM, June 1996)
Trafficked women and girls are first approached by a friend, sister, or member
of the family who is already in the destination country. There is typically
a combination of local and foreign traffickers. The first trafficker, a local
person, remains in the country when the women leave. A second trafficker takes
them to the destination country where they are sold to another trafficker
or impresario at the port upon arrival. Normally, the recruiter takes care
of obtaining all the documents. The majority of women were given a false identity
in legal certificates and passports, a strategy used by traffickers to avoid
legal problems both in the country of origin and destination. Thus, the women
cannot seek legal action because she is using a non-existent identity Once
the girl is taken she is held in debt bondage, for her travel expenses. Upon
arrival in the destination country, the women are received by the local trafficker
and put into prostitution immediately. Without exception, their documents
were taken away by the traffickers and they are told not to talk to anybody.
Many suffer physical violence by the traffickers, pimps or brothel owners.
("Trafficking in Women From the Dominican Republic for Sexual Exploitation,"
IOM, June 1996)
All of the women were told by intermediaries that they would work as barmaids,
in striptease shows, as dancers or entertainers. None were told about prostitution.
Most, especially those with the destination of Europe, were trafficked via
direct air route. ("Trafficking in Women From the Dominican Republic for Sexual
Exploitation," IOM, June 1996)
Tourist visas to Austria are commonly used for the purpose of prostitution.
("Trafficking in Women From the Dominican Republic for Sexual Exploitation,"
IOM, June 1996)
Artist visas to Switzerland are commonly used for trafficking in women for
prostitution. ("Trafficking in Women From the Dominican Republic for Sexual
Exploitation," IOM, June 1996) Swiss traffickers are reported to have been
active in the Dominican Republic for several years, working in the capital
and in beach resorts. Women have to pay up to US$1,500 to the traffickers
for a 3 months’ contract in Switzerland. ("Trafficking in Women From the Dominican
Republic for Sexual Exploitation," IOM, June 1996)
Many women trafficked into the Netherlands do not ask for a Dutch visa because
by travelling to Denmark or Italy first where visas are not required, they
can pass quite easily to the Netherlands. ("Trafficking in Women From the
Dominican Republic for Sexual Exploitation," IOM, June 1996)
One of the most common systems used by Dutch traffickers is officially inviting
a Dominican woman to visit the country. Another common method used by Dutch
traffickers is the false recognition of a Dominican daughter, whereby children
under 17 can obtain Dutch nationality and travel to the Netherlands. Traffickers
falsify or forge birth certificates. ("Trafficking in Women From the Dominican
Republic for Sexual Exploitation," IOM, June 1996)
Women trafficked to Greece said that they had to work as dancers or prostitutes
for the first three months without pay which meant incurring debts for accommodation,
food, and clothes. Then for the following three months they were allowed to
keep 25-30% of what they earned from which their debts had to be paid. They
were rotated to different cabarets. All suffered physical violence. ("Trafficking
in Women From the Dominican Republic for Sexual Exploitation," IOM,
June 1996)
Health and Well-being
Many women returning from being in the sex industry abroad suffered mental
disorders due to the violent treatment they experienced. The lack of understanding
of their destination and the conditions they will face has allowed some women
to comply with leaving. ("Trafficking in Women From the Dominican Republic
for Sexual Exploitation," IOM, June 1996)
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