Annotation:
This paper discusses the sex trafficking of women and children in the Americas. Using a human rights framework, the author begins by analyzing the demand and supply sides of trafficking for sexual exploitation, as well as the impunity with which traffickers are treated. She argues that these three factors allow for the growth of the trafficking industry: "the resulting environment allows high profits at low risk for the traffickers, but with serious health risks and human rights violations for the victims". Human rights violations and the impact on women's health are also discussed. The paper ends with an assessment of international law and the effectiveness of their protection. [Descriptors: Migration - Trafficking, International - Latin America]