Mexican Lawmaker Fights Child Sex Tourism with New Bill

Cancún, Mexico — Federal Deputy Mildred Ávila Vera of the Morena party has introduced an initiative to reform Mexico’s General Tourism Law, aiming to prevent, combat, and eradicate human trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of children and adolescents in tourism-related contexts.

A Call to Action Against Exploitation

“Human trafficking and sexual exploitation are not fiction or a distant issue. They are a reality that often occurs in lodging facilities, tourist services, or beach areas—places where our children should be protected,” stated the Quintana Roo legislator during the presentation of her proposal.

Ávila emphasized the severity of the problem, noting that it is critical to “bring visibility to one of the most cruel and silent forms of violence.” While tourism is a key economic driver for Mexico, she warned that it can also serve as a cover for criminal networks that exploit vulnerable minors.

Key Provisions of the Initiative

The proposed reforms focus on several measures:

1. Strengthening Interagency Coordination
   The initiative mandates closer collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism, the Interministerial Commission Against Human Trafficking, and the National System for the Protection of Children and Adolescents to ensure a more effective, human rights-centered response.
2. Preventive Policies for the Tourism Sector
   It calls for public policies and preventive programs to be implemented across the tourism industry, including travel agencies, hotels, and transportation providers, integrating safeguards into standard operations.
3. Mandatory Training for Service Providers
   Tourism workers would receive training to identify signs of trafficking, with clear protocols established for reporting suspected cases.
4. Annual Accountability Reports
   The Ministry of Tourism would be required to publish yearly reports detailing progress and actions taken to address the issue.

The proposal has been submitted to congressional committees for review and approval.