The north triangle of Central America—Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico—remains among the most dangerous regions for people who decide to migrate north toward the United States. When women and young migrants are involved, safety vulnerabilities multiply and the risks escalate. Many depart with the grim knowledge that they may face sexual violence along the way, carrying not only the hope of safety but also fatigue, poverty, and the scars of prior violence. Aid workers from Plan International describe how protections are sought through resilience and sometimes disguise, while international partners share findings from collaborative research detailing why young Central American women choose to migrate and what their journeys look like.
The report draws on the voices of more than 260 young people aged 15 to 19 who discuss the shared threads in their mobility experiences. Sexual and gender-based violence in their countries of origin often pushes them to migrate, alongside poor job prospects and limited access to education. The decision to leave can be a path toward a new set of ordeals, yet it also marks the beginning of a long, difficult transition reported by the participants.
dirt as protection
One interviewee, a 15 year old who requested anonymity, describes a strategy born of necessity during a perilous crossing. The individual, of Venezuelan descent, explains that crossing through forests is the most dangerous segment for women. The mother dressed her as a man, with oversized clothes and a hat hidden at her hair, and kept her dirty to reduce the chances of being targeted for sexual violence. Yet violations persist in the journey.
Francisca, a 17 year old Venezuelan refugee living in a shelter in Mexico, recounts part of the voyage that involves crossing the Darién gap between Colombia and Panama. She notes that more than 250,000 migrants traversed this route last year. Her experience included crossing the Darien forest for five days with her child, a moment when a trusted friend helped locate her child while she worried about his safety. The journey also included confrontations with armed criminals and the loss of much of their money and possessions.
Another 15 year old, Carmen, whose real name is withheld, describes a painful trek that required leaving behind prized possessions. The narrative highlights the emotional toll and the ongoing fear during migration as a young person seeks safety.
The report highlights several key figures: 7.9 million immigrants in Latin America and the Caribbean are under 18, with girls and adolescent women representing about one fifth of the total female migrant population from these regions. Violence in their home countries tends to intensify during migration, exposing travelers to heightened risks such as trafficking, kidnapping, and extortion. An expert from Plan International notes that Central American adolescents face pervasive discrimination and serious violence at immigration crossings and in daily life. This perspective is echoed by the testimony of Miriam, a Honduran traveler heading toward the United States, who shares her own experience amid the journey.