This publication explores the factors that contribute to trafficking in persons in Costa Rica. Drawing on literature review and field data, it examines why the country, despite ranking highly in regional development indicators such as GDP and the Human Development Index, lags behind in effectively combating human trafficking. The study identifies key contributing factors, including an unregulated tourism industry, the feminization of poverty, entrenched gender norms, and low prosecution and conviction rates. It highlights the disconnect between national development and anti-trafficking effectiveness. This document is relevant for practitioners seeking to understand the complex, intersecting drivers of trafficking in the Costa Rican context.
Year of Publication: 2017
Author(s): Timothy Adam Golob
