Resumen
Despite reports of high levels of violence among women migrants
in Central America, limited evidence exists regarding the health and
safety of migrant sex workers in Central America. This study is based
on 16 months of field research (November 2012–February 2014),
including ethnographic fieldwork, in-depth interviews, and focus
groups conducted with 52 internal and international migrant female
sex workers in Tecun Uman and Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, key
transit and destination communities for both international and internal
migrants. The analysis explored migration-related determinants
of susceptibility to violence experienced by migrant sex workers
across different phases of migration. Violence in home communities
and economic considerations were key drivers of migration. Unsafe
transit experiences (eg undocumented border crossings) and negative
interactions with authorities in destination settings (eg extortion)
contributed to migrant sex workers’ susceptibility to violence,
while enhanced access to information on immigration policies and
greater migration and sex work experience were found to enhance
agency and resilience. Findings suggest the urgent need for actions
that promote migrant sex workers’ safety in communities of origin,
transit, and destination, and programmes aimed at preventing and
addressing human rights violations within the context of migration
and sex work.