Down to Zero Colombia

The Down to Zero (DtZ) program combats commercial sexual exploitation of children and takes preventative and protective measures that focus on actual child victims and at-risk children. The project in targets four different groups: Children, community, government, and private sector. Although in Colombia are policies to combat commercial sexual exploitation of children, they are not yet put into practice. The same shall apply to the shelters for exploited children; they exist but do not run properly yet. Even worse, cities like Riohacha and Albania don't have any shelters at all. Shelters are much needed as the number of cases of exploitation and trafficking grows. A positive development is that the private sector makes progress by working on the development of laws in relation to sexual exploitation in the tourist industry. Also the mining sector needs to deal with solutions for commercial sexual exploitation of children.

Assertiveness:

In the DtZ program we aim at teaching at-risk children and adolescents and other victims to speak out, advocate, and seek protection against sexual exploitation. Personal development plans are an important tool in the program. We motivate children and adolescents to get organized in youth let organizations that access specialized services that protect them, help them rehabilitate, reintegrate, and reduce their vulnerability to sexual exploitation.

Government and stakeholders:

We make private sector stakeholders in the tourism, mining, cement, sugar and the transportation sector aware of their role in fighting child abuse and exploitation, and make sure they amend their practices and/or business models based on ethical principles and values to actively protect children. Last but not least, the government, at all levels and in all fields, is urged to take action.