E/CN.4/2002/94/Add.1 page 13 32. A matter of grave concern is the information received by the Special Rapporteur concerning the situation of women migrants and minors who are sexually abused by smugglers as part of the price they have to pay. The need to leave the country exposes the women to harsh forms of abuse by these networks and by the security or migration officials in the countries of transit and destination. 33. The migrants’ families also described the oppression they experience vis-à-vis the usurers, who collect between 6 and 8 per cent interest each month, and the existence of a network of lawyers linked with the networks of smugglers, who pressure the migrants to pay by threatening to seize land, houses and property. In the face of this phenomenon, it is important to emphasize the difficulties reported by Ecuadorians in obtaining credit through official channels. In this context it will be important for the Government to fulfil the commitment it entered into in the initial agreements concluded as part of the dialogue on migration between the Government and indigenous, peasant and social organizations relating to the establishment of a fund under the programme for the development of Ecuadorian migrants and their families. Against the background of these problems, the Special Rapporteur received accounts from young people who have debts ranging from US$ 18,000 to US$ 40,000 and who find themselves in a vicious and perverse circle of dependence on the smugglers. The smugglers promise to make three attempts at entering the target country when they conclude a deal with migrants. When the first attempt fails, the only way the young people and migrants in general have of paying their debt is to try again, so that they are wholly dependent on the smuggler to pay what they owe. The “three attempts” promise also affects the ability of migrants to denounce networks of smugglers and usurers. 34. The Special Rapporteur noted that remittances are not used for activities that are productive or generate jobs, but rather for superfluous expenditure, which facilitates drug addiction among young people and, as a result, the abandonment of studies. In this regard the Special Rapporteur was most interested in information supplied by Netherlands aid officials concerning income-generating programmes being implemented in areas affected by high levels of migration, as well as other initiatives by bodies such as CONAMU and UNDP. IOM informed the Special Rapporteur of the ways in which it is advising the Government on the implementation of programmes which could be of benefit to migrants’ relatives who remain behind. 35. A serious problem which stood out during the Special Rapporteur’s visit is the impunity enjoyed by the networks of migrant-smugglers. The Governor of Azuay said that his office is working with the civil registration authorities to ensure better monitoring of the issue of documents. The Special Rapporteur was informed that many people make use of agents to handle their papers and do not become involved in procedures personally. The Governor also said that meetings had been held with the association of travel agents to alert them to the problem of smuggling and encourage them to gain thorough knowledge of their clients. The acting prefect of El Cañar said that the police were aware of, and had lists of the names of, some 30-40 highly influential people in the area who are involved in smuggling migrants. In the office of the Governor of Guayas, the deputy chief of migration for the coastal area explained the role of the police in preventing and suppressing the phenomenon of illegal migration and smuggling, as well as the lack of personnel and logistical facilities to tackle the problem. As an example, it was reported that in the province of Manabi, where various smuggling networks are active, there