Panama Nightlife Tours and Human Trafficking

Panama is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation, says the UNHCR’s 2009 Trafficking in Persons Report.

In a three-tiered system of evaluation, Panama is considered a Tier 2 country which indicates that it does not fully comply with the minimum standards but is making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance.

According to the report, Panamanian women are exported to Jamaica, Europe, and Israel for commercial sexual exploitation, but most victims are trafficked to and within the country into Panama’s sex trade.  Most imported sex workers come from Colombia, the Dominican Republic and other Central American nations.

In somewhat related news, a world of online communities and agencies continues to actively promote worldwide sex travel and prostitution to customers in search of Latin passion in Panama.  Among them:  Arians Tours offer the For Gentlemen Only tour which helps “gentlemen looking for a more effervescent night” explore night clubs such as Elite, Elite II, Le Palace, and Capos Bar.  Singles Vacations offers tours that combine Panama Canal and exotic wildlife tours with the opportunity to meet beautiful Panamanian women, and the Holiday Sex Guide provides a list of establishments where gentlemen can “meet single chics from Panama.”

Prostitution is legal and regulated in Panama, requiring prostitutes to register and carry identification cards.  In June of last year, Panama published Law 26 imposing prison fines to strengthen Panama’s anti-trafficking laws and prohibit the internal sex trafficking of adults and minors.