DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

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 presense of sex tourism, with most sex tourists coming from Europe, has contributed to the trafficking of girls. Many tourists either are traffickers or become so. ("Trafficking in Women From the Dominican Republic for Sexual Exploitation," IOM, June 1996)

Two men, a Dane and an American, running a prostitution and pornography ring involving minors, have been arrested in the Dominican Republic. The American, Hubert Barkhasse, also ran sex tourism tours to bring American and Thai men to the Dominican Republic for the purposes of having sex with minors. (Associated Press Online, 19 September 1998)........

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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