Senate unanimously approves measure amending Tourism Law to prevent child sexual exploitation
A new measure will require tourism service providers to verify, via official documentation, the kinship, parental authority, guardianship or care and custody status of minors traveling with adults. The post Senate unanimously approves measure amending Tourism Law to prevent child sexual exploitation appeared first on Mexico News Daily
The Mexican Senate has unanimously approved an amendment to the General Tourism Law with the intent of preventing the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. Under the new measure, tourism service providers, including hotels and rentals, will be required to confirm the kinship, parental authority, guardianship or custody status of minors traveling with adults through official documentation.
If the relationship cannot be verified, these establishments must refuse the booking and promptly inform the authorities for further investigation. It remains unclear which specific official documents will be accepted as proof of identity, and which tourism providers will be obligated to comply with this requirement.
For the amendment to be effectively implemented, training for front-line personnel and necessary updates to online booking systems operating in Mexico will be necessary, according to lawyer Magda Zayas. Mexico is identified as the second-largest destination for the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, and it holds the top position globally in the consumption of child pornography.
Senator Laura Esquivel Torres of the PAN party expressed optimism, stating that Mexico will no longer be a destination for the sexual exploitation of minors due to the amendment and emphasized that pedophiles do not come to Mexico unintentionally; they do so because they have opportunities to exploit minors in the country.
PRI Senator Carolina Viggiano Austria highlighted that over 16,000 children are trapped in sexual exploitation networks in Mexico, primarily located in tourist destinations. The bill defines sexual exploitation of minors in the tourism sector as happening when an offender pretends to be a domestic or foreign tourist and travels to a destination to engage in sexual contact with minors.
The Tourism Ministry has approved the bill with a unanimous vote of 104, and it is now awaiting the president's signature. Similar initiatives are being pursued at the local level; the Association of Hotels of Cancún, Puerto Morelos and Isla Mujeres (AHCPMIM) in Quintana Roo recently committed to "The Code," a global initiative aimed at eradicating the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents in the travel and tourism sector.
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