Cartagena takes action against sex tourism
Child prostitution is a serious problem in Cartagena in Colombia. For years the city has been a hotspot for sex tourism. The local initiative "La Muralla ¡Soy Yo!" campaigns against it.
Cartagena de Indias on the Colombian Caribbean coast is a popular holiday destination. Only the capital Bogotá attracts more visitors every year than this port city in the state of Bolívar.
Cartagena's mixture of colonial heritage and Afro-Colombian culture is unique. The narrow streets with their colorful houses and flower-filled balconies are ideal for strolling and relaxing.
However, not all tourists come here for the charming atmosphere. For years, Cartagena has been a hotspot for sex tourists who target children.
Prostitution rings recruit children and juveniles via social media
Child prostitution is a serious problem in the city. As 26% of Cartagena's inhabitants live in poverty, many families have no other way out of deprivation than to sell their young daughters and sons to prostitution rings. Increasingly, victims are also being approached directly via soci
al media.
Fernando (name changed) was 13 years old when a stranger made him a seemingly lucrative offer on Facebook: "When they offered to pay me for sex, I naively agreed because I didn't have enough money to live the way I wanted to. I had no idea how much this decision would hurt me." For two years he was regularly abused and intimidated by a group of men.
He made the leap out of this vicious circle thanks to a local initiative: La Muralla ¡Soy Yo! (I am the Wall).
Child prostitution long ignored for fear of being stigmatized
"La Muralla ¡Soy Yo!" was founded in 2009 by the NGO Renacer and is dedicated to combating child prostitution in Cartagena. The concept: a combination of prevention, raising awareness, reporting and prosecution.
In this way, the initiative aims to combat a problem which, according to Irvin Pérez, has for a long time not been recognized as such by the Cartagena Tourism Board: "Like any holiday destination, we were afraid of being demonized and of suffering a loss in visitor numbers," he says. "But the city has decided to face the problem and take an absolutely clear position against these illegal activities."
Like the rampart that has protected the historic center of Cartagena from intruders since the late 16th century, the symbolic protective wall of the "Muralla" initiative is intended to shield children and young people from danger. To this end, local authorities are working hand in hand with the tourism sector. Taxi drivers, barkeepers, hoteliers... thousands of them have learned in workshops how to spot and report illegal activities.
Not afraid of confrontation
Víctor Padilla rents out sun loungers on the beach of Castillogrande. Before "Muralla" he was not aware that things happening in front of his eyes were considered child abuse. For 10 years now he has been a dedicated member of the child protection initiative. "If we see anyone misbehaving, we'll inform them that this will not be tolerated. We cannot abandon our children and young people to these criminals," says the father of three. "My support for the 'Muralla' comes from the heart. No one is forcing me to do it. I will defend my community and I will do so with my hands, feet, teeth — with everything I have."