Dominican Republic: Fear and Shame Among Reasons Few Trafficking Cases Reported to Police

On May 30, 2013, El Día reported that over the past year in the Dominican Republic, only 13 victims of human trafficking reported their case to the police, leading to only one sentencing. All of the victims were females subjected to sexual exploitation, including two minors.
According to the report, many of victims have been exploited, battered and, in some cases, murdered. When victims manage to return to the Dominican Republic after escaping sexual exploitation, the majority do not report their tormentors by to the authorities due to shame, fear or lack of confidence in the justice system. Moreover, many of the women fear they will be stigmatized as prostitutes by the authorities. However, most of the victims seeking a better life abroad are not willfully entering the sex industry. Read Article