At least 4 out of every 10 children and adolescents in Latin America have conversations with strangers online and 3 out of 4 are unaware of the risks to which they are exposed in the digital spacesaid a study carried out by the organization Grooming Latam.
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“The results were impressive: 15% of the minors surveyed were asked, via the Internet, for naked or semi-naked images of themselves, and 26% were asked to have a virtual courtship,” said CHS Alternativo.
“Hyperconnectivity has turned girls, boys and adolescents into hypervulnerable people due to the lack of digital education in schools and the lack of dialogue at home”
In this regard, Hernán Navarro, executive director of Grooming Latam, pointed out that the report reveals that “hyperconnectivity has turned girls, boys and adolescents into hypervulnerable people due to the lack of digital education in schools and the lack of dialogue at home.” .
“That is why it is important that citizens know that ‘grooming’ is a type of sexual exploitation without physical contact, that can happen from anywhere in the world and cause the same damage as suffering from physical sexual violence,” he said.
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He also stated that given this evidence it is imperative work on uniform regulations so that the countries of the region unify their criteria regarding crimes that occur online.
The case of Peru
Of this last group, he added, 86% of the requests were made by unknown people and 39% of the minors did not tell what happened and preferred to face the situation alone.
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The study also revealed that Digital platforms are the most used by adults to contact minors. In this regard, the director of Policies and Strategies of CHS Alternativo, Luis Enrique Aguilar, recalled that in Peru there are regulations that sanction sexual exploitation of minors and force internet providers to implement parental filters.
He pointed out that, however, there is no control over what happens on digital platforms, such as social networks and video games. “CHS Alternativo has patrolled these two platforms and has shown that it is very easy for exploiters to contact minors and take advantage of their vulnerabilities. Therefore, it is necessary to reinforce prevention in these spaces and for this to be part of a policy of State,” he added.
Grooming Latam, which celebrated its first anniversary this May 17, is a network that brings together 22 organizations from 11 Latin American countries with the aim of fighting against this form of online sexual exploitation and extending its actions to the promotion, prevention and protection of the rights of girls, boys and adolescents in the digital environment.
EFE
LIMA
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