This book is the edited version of my dissertation for the Doctorate of the Science of Law (J.S.D.) degree in Intercultural Human Rights at Saint Thomas University College of Law, Miami, Florida, USA. It was written under the supervision of Professor Dr. iur. Roza Pati, Professor of Law, Founder and Director of the John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy, Executive Director of the LL.M./ J.S.D. Program in Intercultural Human Rights, and Member of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development at the Holy See.
I would like to thank my Mom, Noemy, for instilling in me the desire to leave this world a little better than I found it, and for supporting this journey no matter how far-fetched it seemed at times, amidst all the challenges along the way. Thank you so much, Mom, for believing in me.
Thank you Dad, I know you’d be buying your own copy(ies?) and telling the world I’m your daughter. Miss you.
To my daughter, Victoria, your tomorrow is the world I’m working towards. And I can’t wait to see what you do with what you’ve been given. I will always be here for you.
My deepest gratitude to my family for their unbelievable support throughout this journey, I really couldn’t have done this without you. To my incredible siblings, Lucy, for your brilliant legal mind that kept pushing me to find myself in this field. You were right, it clicked. Noemy, for your undying support through the process and celebrating every milestone. Ana, you are incredibly gifted while exuding unbelievable patience as I rattle off my theories at 3:00 am and making me laugh when I needed it. Carlos, for your positive reassurance along the way. And to my brother-in-law, Hector, who has been such an inspiration in my life’s journey, thank you for spending countless hours debating, pushing me to expand my perspective and modeling how to be a better human and reading numerous drafts. You also helped me get from thought to paper (“ok, but write it down!”), which ultimately becomes the best dissertation, a written one. Thank you all so much.
My supervising professor, a brilliant scholar, leader, expert, visionary and unbelievable mentor, Dr. iur. Roza Pati. Thank you for your guidance and helping to make this book a reality. From the moment I came to you with my unlikely story to plead my case into accepting me into the LL.M. program as an unlikely candidate, you believed in me and challenged me to grow ever since (as you do with all your students), instilling in me the curiosity for what was possible. You continue to lift me up, opening amazing doors to expand my research. You saw my undying thirst for knowledge, for truth, and for making a
To Professor Federico Lenzerini for this thoughtful comments on my dissertation, and to Professor Siegfried Wiessner for his ultimate emendations as Editor-in-Chief of the Studies in Intercultural Human Rights. May I also thank you, Professor Wiessner, for your exceptional vision, expertise and mission pursued with the Intercultural Human Rights Program. You are an inspiration, and the impact of your work is evident in the life of each student that crosses your path. Thank you for providing the tools and lenses to apply to the research which can help make an impact in the world.
My thanks to the support and experiences from my peers in the LL.M. program at St. Thomas University College of Law including my time serving as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Intercultural Human Rights Law Review.
Thank you to Professor Dr. K C Sunny for so graciously including me on such an impactful and enriching working tour of India alongside Professor Dr. Roza Pati This added so much depth to my research and perspective to the data. Thank you for the work you continue to do.
Thank you to the countless individuals and survivors in India, Costa Rica and throughout the United States, who took the time to share with me their experiences. I remain humbled by your stories. Thank you also to all the organizations, institutions, leaders, scholars, researchers, authors, professionals in the private and public sector across various industries/disciplines, government officials and advocates in the anti-human trafficking field for your continued work and impact. I hope this books helps in surfacing additional perspectives as to how we can continue to make progress related to this topic.
Special thanks to a few individuals who were incredibly giving of their time and expertise: Sandy Skelaney, Grant Knisely, Dr. M. Renzo Rosales, S.J., Nathalia Amortegui, Jassir Heredia, Sharon Mall, Rev. Ayub Francis Nasar, Fr. Sebastian Kottoor, Nagaraj Kasthuri, Deacon Fred Molina and Dr. Michael Shank. To the many individuals who also made an invaluable contribution to this research and journey, I will be forever grateful.
Finally, my admiration for the brave souls in the trenches every day and encouragement to those impacted by this crime, you are not alone.
We are all in this together. We all are, can create and change the culture from where we are.