Public Misinformation Hinders Tulum Child Labor Fight

TULUM — The fight against child labor exploitation in Tulum is facing not only the recurrence of some cases but also a lack of public awareness, which at times hinders the work of the authorities tasked with protecting minors.

The Secretary of Public Security and Citizen Protection of Tulum, Edgar Aguilar Rico, reported that a joint operation was carried out last weekend with personnel from the DIF (Integral Family Development System) and other agencies. This operation is part of a permanent program aimed at eradicating child labor both in the city center and on the beaches.

During the intervention, a minor who was a repeat offender in these practices was detected. The child was allegedly under the care of a relative who had placed her on the streets to sell snacks.

The operation led to an altercation with some passersby, who questioned the personnel's actions upon observing the minor being taken into custody.

Aguilar Rico explained that this type of public reaction often obstructs the procedure, as people are unaware that the teams conducting the operations are comprised of lawyers, psychologists, and criminologists trained to provide accompaniment to the children and guarantee their rights are respected at all times.

“We want to make a call to the citizenry to allow us to do our work. The objective is the well-being of the children, who should not be on the streets working, but in their homes or in school, as is their right to development,” stated the official.

The secretary emphasized that the operations are carried out constantly, day and night, on Tulum's main avenues and commercial zones, as well as in tourist areas. However, misinformation about the protocols generates confusion among residents and can complicate the immediate attention given to cases.

In last weekend's incident, the authorities opted to exhort the child's guardian to fulfill her responsibilities, warning that stricter measures would be taken to protect the girl in case of recurrence.

Aguilar Rico reiterated that child labor exploitation is a problem that requires both institutional work and citizen collaboration. He noted that impeding rescue actions or interfering with them puts minors at risk and delays efforts to eradicate a practice that violates their fundamental rights.

“What we are seeking is precisely to eradicate child labor in Tulum. But we need society to understand that these operations are for the good of our children and the municipality,” he concluded.