Belarus Tourism
V. Country Narratives -- Countries A through G
France is a destination country for women trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and involuntary domestic servitude, primarily from Eastern and Central Europe and Africa. The number of Chinese women trafficked to France for sexual exploitation increased in 2004. The government estimates that there are 10,000 to 12,000 trafficking victims in France, 3,000-8,000 of whom are children forced into prostitution and labor. Nigerian trafficking networks continued to expand their activities in France. Trafficking of Brazilian women and girls for sexual exploitation to French Guiana a French possession remained a serious problem. The Government of France fully complies with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. Although the government did not provide full data on investigations, prosecutions, convictions, and sentences, the Secretary of State has ... [Read More]
Belarus
Under the La Strada program, BYWCO provided trafficking prevention training to regional NGOs and municipalities. The BYCWO established an information telephone line for women traveling abroad for reasons other than tourism. BYCWO receives more than 100 inquiries a month. In November BYWCO increased the hotline's operating hours from 2 to 7 days a week. ... [Read More]
Cyprus (07/05)
Assistance from Turkey is crucial to the Turkish Cypriot economy. Under the latest economic protocol (signed in 2005), Turkey undertakes to provide Turkish Cypriots loans and financial assistance totaling $450 million over a three-year period for public finance, tourism, banking, and privatization projects. Turkey also provides millions of dollars annually in the form of low-interest loans to mostly Turkish entrepreneurs in support of export-oriented industrial production and tourism. Total Turkish assistance to Turkish Cypriots since 1974 is estimated to exceed $3 billion. ... [Read More]
Introduction
State promotion of tourism drives the predatory interests that promote sex tourism and sexual exploitation of underage girls for prostitution in Cuba. ... [Read More]
Europe and Eurasia
The Government's human rights record remained very poor and worsened in some areas. The Government continued to commit numerous serious abuses and to deny citizens the right to change their government. The Government manipulated and abused the legal system to prevent several hundred independent and opposition candidates from registering in the October 2004 elections. State-controlled media, representing 85 percent of all media, denied access to independent and opposition candidates. By the end of the year, the Government was preventing the opposition from legally holding meetings. Security forces continued to harass and detain political opponents, journalists, human rights activists and independent trade unionists. Police severely beat several opposition leaders, peaceful protesters and journalists. The authorities continued to refuse to undertake serious efforts to account for the disappearances of well-known opposition political figures and a journalist in previous years or to addres ... [Read More]
US State Department Road Safety Overseas
U.S. Department of State [Read More]
I. Introduction
In response to the phenomenon of CST, NGOs, the tourism industry, and governments have begun to address the issue. The World Tourism Organization (WTO) established a task force to combat CST. The WTO, the NGO End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT), and Nordic tour operators created a global Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism in 1999. As of March 2005, 100 travel companies from 18 countries have signed the code. (See www.thecode.org.) ... [Read More]
Country Narratives -- Countries A through G
The government is in the process of harmonizing its laws with the U.N. Trafficking in Persons Protocol, which it has ratified, and is already in compliance with the Child Rights Convention. Trafficking nets a 10-year sentence and rapists receive life in prison, but this will increase to the death penalty under the new amendments. Law enforcement arrested and deported five foreigners for trafficking young girls out of The Gambia and in March 2003 broke up a pedophile ring. The government cooperates with the Dutch police to monitor and investigate Dutch pedophiles. The Tourism Bill is being amended to include protective measures for victims and stiffer penalties for abuses committed by tourists. Government enforcement efforts, however, remain weak, particularly against local hotel operators. Foreign applicants for temporary residence permits are required to submit fingerprints for a police check for criminal records. The police have a mechanism by which they receive information on to ... [Read More]
V. Country Narratives -- Countries H through P
Kenya is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation. Kenyan children are internally trafficked for forced domestic servitude, street vending, agricultural labor, and sexual exploitation. Children are also trafficked to Kenyas coastal area, where they are sexually exploited in a nascent coastal sex tourism industry catering to foreigners. Kenyan women are trafficked to the Middle East, other African nations, and Western Europe for forced domestic labor and sexual exploitation. Burundian and Rwandan children are trafficked to Kenya for sexual exploitation and unpaid domestic labor. Asian nationals, mainly Chinese women, are reportedly trafficked through Nairobi to Europe. Southeast Asian nationals are coerced into accepting circumstances of bonded and unpaid labor in Kenyas construction and garment industries. ... [Read More]
Foreign Entry Requirements
AUSTRALIA - *Passport, Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) or non-electronic label visa, proof of onward or return ticket, and sufficient funds are required. An ETA or non-electronic label visa is required for tourist or business stays of up to 3 months. An ETA is an electronically stored authority to travel to Australia and can be obtained online at www.ETA.immi.gov.au or through participating travel agencies or airlines. Minors not accompanied by a parent or traveling with only one parent need notarized written parental consent from the absent parent(s). AIDS test required for permanent resident visa for applicants age 15 and older; tests taken in the U.S. are acceptable. More information about entry requirements to Australia (including for longer stays) is available on the Embassy of Aus ... [Read More]
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