Leiden University Student Repository

Hirschhauser, Valerie (2014)

Sex trafficking and tourism: the emergence of sex hubs in Mexico and Panama

Master thesis | International Relations (MA)

The trade in humans for forced labor is the fastest growing criminal industry, with estimated annual profits of $150 billion, whereby trafficking for commercial sexual services (henceforth sex trafficking)generates $100 billion alone and hereby is responsible for the largest proportion of the profit (Luscombe, 2014). Advanced communication and widespread Internet access, often considered positive outcomes of globalization, in fact help the trafficking industry to function efficiently. Popular tourist destinations in Panama and Mexico with high demand for sex tourism are researched to assess their role as sex hubs in the trafficking debate.

sex trafficking

tourism

exploitation

globalization

sex hub

Author

Hirschhauser, Valerie

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

MA International Studies

Supervisors

Aguair, Jose Carlos G.

ECTS Credits

10

Language

en