Prostitution in Colombia is legal as long as it is
done in designated "tolerance zones".
Prostitution is widespread and exacerbated by poverty and internal
displacement. Domestically, organized crime networks, some related
to illegal armed groups, are responsible for
human trafficking for sexual exploitation
and the armed conflict has made a large number of internal
trafficking victims vulnerable.
Child prostitution
It is
estimated that there are 35,000 children working as prostitutes in
Colombia with between 5,000 and 10,000 of them on the streets of
Bogotá
.
A series of factors put children at risk for sexual exploitation in
Colombia and leave them unprotected. The war and the drug trade
have altered family structures that in ordinary times would have
provided safety and nurture. The war has also caused the
displacement of countless families, some of whose children have
been soldiers in the war. Displaced children are particularly
vulnerable to being prostituted, even more so in the declining
economy .
A spokesman for the UN's children's fund, UNICEF, Karel de Rooy,
said many child prostitutes were as young as nine years old and
that clients were often middle-aged foreigners. He also said that
the children were often
addicted to
drugs .
Commercial sexual exploitation of children is found especially in
urban centers and in areas where there are large numbers of men who
are separated from families due to work. Children are involved in
commercial sexual exploitation either on the streets or in private
establishments such as bars, brothels, or massage parlors. .
The culture of violence in Colombia had created a feeling of fear
and resignation among the population; the violence had led to child
prostitution and child gangs which added to the worsening situation
of violence.
Colombia
also is a destination for foreign child sex tourists, particularly coastal
cities such as Cartagena and Barranquilla
.
Human trafficking
Colombia is a major source country for women and girls
trafficked to Latin America, the Caribbean
, Western Europe,
Asia, and North
America, including the United States
, for purposes of commercial sexual
exploitation. Internally, women and children are trafficked
from rural to urban areas for commercial sexual exploitation.
Continued armed violence in Colombia has displaced many
communities, making them vulnerable to human trafficking. Groups at
high risk for internal trafficking include displaced persons, poor
women in rural areas, and relatives of members of criminal
organizations.
Members of gangs and organized criminal networksforce their
relatives and acquaintances, and displacedpersons – typically women
and children – into conditionsof forced prostitution. .
Many traffickers disclose the sexual nature of the work they offer
but conceal information about working conditions, clientele,
freedom of movement, and compensation. Others disguise their intent
by portraying themselves as modeling agents, offering marriage
brokerage services, providing study programs, or operating lottery
or bingo scams with free trips as prizes .
Government response
The Government of Colombia is making efforts to fight child
prostitution, forced prostitution, sexual slavery and human
trafficking.
Colombia prohibits all forms of traffickingthrough its
anti-trafficking statute, Law 985, whichprescribes minimum
punishments of 13 to 23 years’imprisonment.
The Government of Colombia cooperates with foreign governments
torepatriate trafficking victims and investigate traffickingcases
.
The Government has improved prevention efforts againsthuman
trafficking by launching a widespread educationcampaign entitled
“The Next Victim Could Be You” inOctober 2008. The campaign
included TV commercials,radio spots, and print advertising
featuring a popularColombian television personality.
However, the
poverty and
violence from the country create an environment
where sexual exploitation thrieves. Many victims of trafficking
refuse to assist in the prosecution of their traffickers due to
fear of reprisals.
References
External links
Wikis
Map
Search