Sexual tourism: volunteer offers glimpse into child sex trafficking in the Dominican Republic
My eyes fall upon girls and boys sitting on the laps of adults who are not their fathers. These men hold the hands of children, leading them to the doors of hotels as if to devour them.
- 11 months ago
December 31, 2023
BOCA CHICA, Dominican Republic ꟷ In the Dominican Republic, sexual exploitation of minors occurs frequently, especially among people who live in extreme poverty. They turn to sex acts to access economic resources, but they are often captured by human traffickers and pimps who take advantage of their needs. Parents and those close to them remain silent out of fear of someone being arrested or worse, being accused themselves of promoting the act.
This marginalization at the most dehumanizing level often leads families to live off the exploitation of their children. Sexual exploitation becomes so normalized that pedophiles and abusers act as though they are sitting at a great feast, taking advantage of people who dream of a future outside of poverty and misery. The entire process evolves into a monster, feeding on boys, girls, and young people until it swallows them whole.
Read more stories about trafficking and related topics at Orato World Media.
Seeing children exploited by pedophiles in a system of trafficking distresses me daily
In Boca Chica, sexual exploitation and child labor remain a serious problem. [Boca Chica, known for its white sandy beaches, coral reefs, palm trees, waterfront restaurants, and lively nightlife, attracts tourists from around the world.] When I see young people walking the beaches selling objects, food, or even their own bodies, I feel distress set in.
Walking the shoreline, I encounter the situation daily, looking for signs and trying to help young people escape their situation. My eyes fall upon girls and boys sitting on the laps of adults who are not their fathers. These men hold the hands of children, leading them to the doors of hotels as if to devour them. As the crystal-clear water approaches the beach in waves, the proposals by pedophiles pile up in the sand.
Girls wearing super sexualized clothing and high heels masturbate over their clothes as an invitation, like a sinister postcard. Many join this work when they see friends making money through prostitution and decide to follow. At first, it feels easy as they set their own terms, but later a harsher reality confronts them. Quickly, they become depressed and suicidal.
Often, these children get thrown out of their homes because their parents cannot afford them anymore. They become broken and defeated, living a miserable and lonely life. Others leave home of their own free will because of poverty and hunger, or because their own homes are abusive. On the other hand, pedophiles and pimps buy them gifts and food. Soon, they get recruited into trafficking through structured networks. Some tour operators work within the system. It makes me shudder.
Volunteering with Caminante because I worked as a child laborer
Sixteen years ago as a child, I encountered an NGO called Caminante while shining shoes on the streets of Boca Chica. [For over 20 years, the Caminante Educational Project has worked with families, community leaders, and authorities in the municipality to prevent abuse, commercial sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and smuggling.]
I belonged to an extremely poor family. Each of us had to work to eat. As I walked from client to client shining shoes, the people at Caminante saw me and followed me for a while. In time, they gained my trust and I could see they felt worried about me. While difficult to accept their help, they took me home one day and talked to my parents. Tears fell down all of our faces.
Caminante enrolled me in school, and with a lot of follow-up, I escaped my situation and never returned to the streets to work again. While I never became a prostitute, I did serve as a mule, carrying a little bag for someone. As a child, I witnessed countless situations where a merchant or hotel worker offered money to children in exchange for oral sex.
Today, I give back by working with Caminante. Our protocol allows us to observe, record, and report situations. As we stroll along the beaches, the abusers rarely realize what we are doing as we gather evidence. When I encounter situations, I can see with complete clarity what is happening, but at no point can I intervene. We do not represent the law. It feels like having your arms tied behind your back as thousands of questions run through your mind. I hold back and keep cool even though I feel fury, pain, and frustration run rampant through my mind.
The uphill battle of getting kids off the street and out of sex trafficking
On a typical day, when I see a child move away from an abuser, I approach to introduce myself. Generating a bond, I invite them to the institution. Many are hungry and come for food. We allow them to bathe, change their clothing, and get to know us – learning where they come from and the status of their parents. As they become comfortable and we gather information, we plan a follow-up meeting and investigate for evidence of sexual exploitation. Our goal: to get them out of the terror in which they live.
Maisel García, a young woman who escaped child sex trafficking, endured abuse by men three to four times a night. A deep sadness invaded her as a teenager, feeling as though she would never escape. Little by little, the organization helped her get out and now, as an adult, she has four children and works at a hotel, but huge scars remain. The memories of her life in sex work keep her awake at night.
When we manage to engage a child, we work little by little on empowerment, self-esteem, and confidence building. Traffickers know they have low self-esteem, making them easy prey. When I see a child’s face change as it dawns on them that they are victims of violence and sexual abuse, it stuns me. After internalizing and normalizing their experiences, they often burst into tears as they tell their story.
Still, it can feel like an impossible task to convince them to come, even when we offer a roof over their heads. We cannot help if they remain on the streets. They need to learn to be kids again – to play, go to school, do sports, and lead as normal a life as possible.
Challenges remain but we hold onto the successes: kids escaping abuse
Five years ago, Caminante helped dismantle a trafficking network that operated for years, exploiting children. A recruiter targeted children living on the streets, took them to his apartment, and gave them food. In exchange, he asked them to undress in front of him while he masturbated, or demanded they masturbate him.
As I listened attentively to children talking about him, I found myself disoriented and broken in pain. A fierce anger arose in me and my heart pounded. I felt torn apart. Their words repeated until I broke, and as I looked in their eyes while they talked, a part of them disappeared as if they died. These children were so raw.
Dismantling that network, getting kids into Caminante, and seeing them grow and become adults feels extremely exciting. When we bring kids in, we know they can fall straight back into hell, so we maintain the same intensity from start to finish. I hold onto the successes, especially when the future feels uncertain. I remember the stories of success – like the boy who shined shoes on the streets like me, from nine to 17 years old, and now studies law at the university.
Teaching youth subjected to sexual exploitation and child labor the value of freedom remains the deepest meaning of this project and my life.
