Cancun, Quintana Roo — Puerto Morelos Mayor Blanca Merari Tziu Muñoz has reaffirmed her commitment to protecting children and adolescents as the municipality joins a state-led campaign against child sexual exploitation ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Merari attended the launch of the “Tarjeta Roja, Cero Tolerancia a la Explotación Sexual Infantil” (Red Card, Zero Tolerance for Child Sexual Exploitation) campaign, led by Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa at the Ka’Yok’ Planetarium in Cancun.
The campaign, developed in partnership with UNICEF, aims to strengthen prevention, detection, and action against child sexual exploitation amid an expected surge in national and international tourist mobility during the World Cup.
“In Puerto Morelos, we are convinced that protecting our children and adolescents is a shared responsibility,” Merari said. “Hotels, transporters, workers, and all sectors — we are joining this campaign to strengthen a culture of reporting and prevention, because there can be no tolerance for those who violate children’s rights.”
As a tourist destination, Puerto Morelos maintains close coordination with various sectors of society to ensure that economic growth occurs in an environment of respect and protection of human rights, especially for children, Merari said.
Given the expected influx of visitors during international soccer events, the municipality is aligning with state government actions, through the DIF Quintana Roo, to reinforce child protection mechanisms.
Verónica Lezama Espinosa, honorary president of DIF Quintana Roo, called child sexual exploitation “one of the most painful forms of violence because it hurts what is most sacred: our children. There can be no indifference, no silence, and no normalization of this.”
Governor Mara Lezama said Quintana Roo has been working for years on concrete lines of action to protect children and adolescents from crimes such as sexual exploitation. She urged citizens and all sectors to report any suspicious situations involving minors by calling 9-1-1.
Merari acknowledged the governor’s leadership in uniting authorities, the private sector, social organizations, and citizens to eradicate this crime.
The campaign goes beyond awareness-raising, aiming for ongoing work with various sectors to replicate actions, protocols, and mechanisms to prevent, identify, and report risks to children.
“We reaffirm our commitment to continue working in coordination with the three levels of government to guarantee a life free of violence for children and adolescents, always prioritizing their well-being and full development,” Merari said.
The event was attended by Fernando Carrera Castro, representative of UNICEF Mexico; Isabel Velazco Luna, UNICEF partnerships specialist for the World Cup; Laurent Duvillier, head of communications for UNICEF Mexico; the mayors of Benito Juárez and Isla Mujeres; and representatives from various sectors joining the campaign.
