Description:
|
The Special Rapporteur visited Mexico from 4 to 15 May 2007. The Special Rapporteur visited the following places: Guadalaja ra (Jalisco), Tijuana (Baja California), Ciudad Juárez (Chihuahua) and the Federal District. The Special Rapporteur conducted on-site visits to observe the situation of children on the streets and in bars, nightclubs and areas considered a social risk (violent neighbourhoods, border areas, markets with places for illicit sexual exchanges). He also visited a number of centres for child victims of exploitation and abuse, as well as a wide range of social services for the protection of minors. The present report analyses the legal frameworks at the federal level and in the States visited. There follows a discussion of the various programmes and policies adopted by government and civil society actors, which the Special Rapporteur considers useful for combating the commercial sexual exploitation of children; measures taken to implement a general national strategy for children; and the authorities responsible for punishing crimes. The Special Rapporteur then compares the situation prevailing in each city visited, bearing in mind that, while the causes of the commercial sexual exploitation of children are similar in most places, the characteristics of the phenomenon, as well as the responses of State and municipal governments and civil society, vary from one place to another. Lastly, the Special Rapporteur makes recommendations that can be adapted to Mexico's diverse situations, in order to have a greater impact on civil society. A stronger and more creative approach must be taken to combat child sexual exploitation; legislation must be harmonized, coordination between law enforcement authorities must be improved, and additional resources must be allocated to combat this phenomenon, bearing in mind that the commercial sexual exploitation of children is not an isolated incident and that efforts must be made in conjunction with the fight against impunity and organized crime. |
