Expert Warned of the Evolution of Child Slavery in Mexico
Carmen Gabriela Ruiz Serrano, a professor at the National School of Social Work (ENTS) of UNAM, highlighted that child slavery in Mexico not only persists but also takes on new forms, as the country commemorated the International Day Against Child Slavery on April 16th.
New Modalities of Exploitation
According to Ruiz Serrano, child slavery in Mexico now includes exploitation through sexual abuse, forced labor, begging, hired killings, and recruitment into criminal organizations, severely affecting girls, boys, and adolescents.
Digitalization Complicates the Issue
The digital revolution has expanded and complicated this problem, according to the expert. She explained that children are now forced into digital extortion or exploited by adults for their own gain through social media content. This is identified under the General Law to Prevent and Punish Crimes Related to Human Trafficking, which recognizes both traditional exploitation practices and new digital-related offenses.
Additional Forms of Exploitation
The 2024 Global Report on Human Trafficking confirms that forced begging (asking for alms for an adult) and involvement in criminal activities are additional concerns within this issue.
Statistics and Vulnerable Factors
Although precise numbers are unavailable due to the clandestine nature of these crimes, approximately 3,800 investigations were opened between 2017 and 2021 for human trafficking. Ruiz Serrano estimates that recruitment of minors for illicit activities may have grown from 30,000 to 150,000 cases following the pandemic.
Factors such as poverty, inequality, domestic violence, and lack of opportunities increase child vulnerability. Ruiz Serrano emphasized the need to strengthen family and school protection to prevent minors from being lured by criminal groups offering a false sense of belonging.
Call to Action for Parents and Educators
Ruiz Serrano also urged parents and guardians to be more attentive to their children’s needs amidst an increasingly complex scenario. She referenced a report by the Office of Children’s Rights (ODI) documenting at least 25 cases of pre-school child sexual exploitation.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the current state of child slavery in Mexico? Child slavery persists and has evolved, with new digital forms of exploitation affecting minors.
- How has digitalization impacted child slavery? Digitalization has expanded and complicated the issue, enabling new forms of exploitation such as digital extortion.
- What are some new modalities of child exploitation? These include sexual abuse, forced labor, begging, hired killings, and recruitment into criminal organizations.
- What factors contribute to child vulnerability? Poverty, inequality, domestic violence, and lack of opportunities increase child vulnerability to exploitation.
- What actions are recommended by experts? Strengthen family and school protection, and be more attentive to children’s needs to prevent them from being lured by criminal groups.
