Sexual Exploitation of Minors in Medellín

Abstract

The city of Medellín has recently experienced notable growth in terms of foreign tourism. Understanding that this phenomenon, in certain contexts, has coincided with a specific increase in cases of child sexual exploitation. Based on the problem question: How has foreign tourism in Medellín influenced the increase in child sexual exploitation? this research aims to analyze the concrete impact with a single purpose, which is to identify the causes and understand the structural factors that facilitate this issue. With this goal, the following specific objectives are developed: i) to Identify the regulations that govern child sexual exploitation in Colombia; (ii) to examine the role of local and national institutions in the prevention and sanctioning of child sexual exploitation related to foreign tourism; and (iii) to determine how the increase in foreign tourism in Medellín contributes to the vulnerability of minors to sexual exploitation. The findings show that, in the absence of various ethical regulations and effective institutional control, the issue is exacerbated in moments of exclusion and risk that favor the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, thus demanding urgent actions from the state.