[1] In 2010 Panama was a source, transit, and destination country for women and children subjected to trafficking in persons, specifically forced prostitution.
Weak controls along Panama's borders made the nation an easy transit point for irregular migrants, from Latin America, East Africa, and Asia, some of whom may have fallen victim to human trafficking.
During the reporting period,[year needed] authorities increased public awareness about the prostitution of children through seminars in schools and an outreach campaign with the tourism sector.
Under aggravated circumstances of threat, force, or fraud, this constitutes human trafficking as defined by international protocol, and carries a sentence of eight to 10 years.
Panamanian law, however, does not specifically prohibit human trafficking for the purpose of forced labor, including domestic servitude.
Authorities did not employ systematic procedures for identifying trafficking victims among vulnerable populations, such as women in prostitution or detained irregular migrants.
The government continued to provide partial funding to an NGO-operated shelter with dedicated housing and social services for child trafficking victims.
To raise awareness about commercial sexual exploitation of children, the government conducted seminars in 84 schools, reaching 6,900 students, 230 teachers, and 140 parents.
The government implemented its National Plan for Prevention and Elimination of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents by publishing a comprehensive guide on health care of children and adolescent victims of commercial sexual exploitation and through supporting a study of sex trafficking in Panama.