Costa Rica: A Hot Spot for Sexcapades
Since becoming aware of sex trafficking as a global problem, I think about it often when I travel. Currently I am living in Costa Rica in Central America, where prostitution is legal and booming. In fact, it is becoming more and more of a hotspot for sex tourists, who do not want to travel as far as Asia to buy sex.
Not only are Costa Rican girls and women trafficked into Nicaragua, Panama, Mexico, and Japan, but foreign girls from Russia, Colombia, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Eastern Europe have been identified as victims of forced prostitution in Costa Rican bars and strip clubs. Child sex tourism is flourishing in regions such as Guancaste, Limon, Puntarenas, and San Jose.
On the plane ride to San Jose, I sat next to an American man in his 40s who regularly visits Costa Rica by himself, though he has no friends, family, or business here. Hmm. It is no wonder why men are flocking here when there are articles like this one in GQ about getting laid in Costa Rica.
In my interview with the author of The Natashas: A New Global Sex Trade and The Johns: Sex for Sale and the Men Who Buy It, Victor Malarek mentioned that Ludwig Feinberg, a trafficker that was kicked out of Canada, relocated to Costa Rica with his human trafficking operations. This guy has some serious business-savvy. Because legalized prostitution makes victims more difficult to locate, Feinberg, along with many others, is able to make a boatload of cash in a place like Costa Rica.
Down the street from where I live is a bar that is known locally as “Sonya’s Knob” (right). Prostituted girls work here under supervision of their “mothers.” I wonder what their stories are. Do they want to be there? It is a constant reminder to me of how exploitation of women exists everywhere.
Michelle Brock
7 People have commented on this post
I read Victor Malarek’s book ‘The Johns’ and he has a whole chapter on Costa Rica and child prostitution. Apparently it is a big problem there. He also mentioned in that chapter that the only safe house for kids to escape to had closed. (Casa Hojar). The people who were running it have started another organization but it seems to only be dealing with legal issues of child prostitution (Alianza Por Tus Derechos). There is another organization ‘Fundacion Rahab’ which works with women and and kids in prostitution and tries to help them escape but as far as I can tell they don’t have a safe house either. I have been trying to discover if there is one single safe house in all of Costa Rica?? If there isn’t, is one needed? I’m thinking probably yes. How can kids escape if there is no where safe to go? I am part of a group of ladies who would love to fund a safe house if one exists in CR and if not we would like to see one opened. Do you happen to know the answers to any of these questions?
Great questions Tessa, ones I have been asking myself. I will see what I can do to find out and get back to you via email. That is great to hear that you and your group of women are so passionate about this!
I am moving down to CR in a week to do just that, start a safe house for young girls forced into prostitution. Right now i am just receiving my 501c3 status. As of now I have no funds but know that i must go anyway and start to get these girls into a safe and loving home where they will be loved and protected.I would love to hear form you.
Hello ladies, I am moving to Costa Rica in just a week to teach hair to girls coming out of prostitution. I would love to get in contact with you and find out more about what you are doing/ hear Ideas. -hawkins.megan@gmail.com
My husband and I are planning to move to Costa Rica.
We too were impressed with International Justice Mission’s
work and moved into producing a documentary on the issue.
We traveled to Thailand and interviewed in Canada as well.
We examined the mind and rehabilitation of both victims
and pedophiles. The documentary “Surviving the Storm”
is complete and we are working on distribution.
We really want to pursue our advocacy and education in this
field when move to Costa Rica. One of our thoughts had been to
start a receiving/rehabilitation home for girls caught in the sex trade. Hearing that this may be in the works, we are very interested in promoting/helping.
We would like more information on this. If you, Maria (Fejervaru)
might contact me, that would be greatly apppreciated.
I am also interested in your work, Michelle, as well.
From your profile picture, it seems that we live near to you.
(isabellecastella@hotmail.com)
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