Medellín Enacts Curfew that Restricts Minors from Specific Areas to Combat Sexual Exploitation of Children

Medellín recently took drastic measures to combat sexual exploitation of minors by issuing a curfew that restricts anyone under the age of 18 from entering certain high-profile areas between 7 pm and 5 am. The measure was announced last month and went into effect on January 31 in Colombia’s second-largest city.

The edict was issued during the first month in office of newly elected Mayor Federico “Fico” Gutierrez, who previously served as the city’s mayor from 2016-2019, and applies to the following areas:

• Parque Lleras and surrounding streets
• La 33 (including Calle 37 between Carreras 43a and 54, and between the Autopista and Carrera 80 in both directions)
• La Candelaria (from Calle Colombia to Rojas Pinilla, between Calle Bolivar and Calle Cúcuta, including Plaza de Botero and Parroquia de la Veracruz)
• Corredor de la 70 (from Carrera 70 to Carrera 68a, between Calle 47d and Circular 1).

The time and location restriction only applies to unaccompanied minors. Children are permitted if they are with a parent.

Medellín has increased its efforts to combat this scourge and spread awareness in recent years. Signage announcing zero-tolerance policies for this grave crime can be seen on the windows or doors of many hotel and hostels, especially in the tourism and foreign resident hotspot of El Poblado.

Parque Lleras, one of the restricted areas, is in neighborhood’s nightlife zone and well known as a center for soliciting prostitution. The increase of sex tourism, and major presence of foreigners in general, in Poblado has led to a growing, visible backlash in recent years by locals who point to what they see as some downsides to Colombia’s big uptick in international tourism in recent years.

(Photo credit: ProColombia)