9mo ago

Colombia's Medellín declares war on sex tourism after US citizen found with two little girls at a hotel

english.elpais.com Medellín declares war on sex tourism after US citizen found with two little girls at a hotel

The city’s mayor Federico Gutiérrez announces the six-month suspension of sex work in the neighborhood El Poblado and limits operating hours of the bars and clubs in the area, in which he says sex trafficking is taking place

You're viewing a single thread.

122 comments

This is just political theater to make it seem like the Governor is doing something. Colombia, and much of Latin America, has a much larger issue being extremely wealthy countries with vastly poor populations.
These countries are being kept this way purposely so that they can be exploited by much wealthier nations(US, Spain, France, Netherlands, India). This breeds a culture of self regulation and minimal government intervention, riddled with corruption and a populace left to their own devices.
Prostitution in the touristic areas hasn’t been stopped at all, just pushed a little underground while the cops look the other way, because they are also customers.
Fixing this problem requires something that won’t occur in our lifetimes. Which is unfortunate as Colombia is one of the most beautiful and magical places on earth. Antioquia specifically is such an amazing place and the Paisa people are so unique and kind. Really beautiful when isolated cultures can survive this long.
- I agree on this type of declarations being pure theater.
  Which isolated culture do you refer to?
  
  The Paisa people were isolated in the Andes mountains for a long time as it was difficult for the Spanish to access when it was part of Gran Colombia. The culture around Medellin and the coffee triangle is different the rest of country and kind of similar to the Southern hospitality in the US. Everyone is so willing to talk to you and invite you to gatherings even if you’re a stranger.
  They are no longer isolated but their culture persists. I just hope all the tourism doesn’t spoil it.
  
  I would not call a region with a capital city that was founded in the 16 hundreds isolated.
  Colombia, and the region you refer to, is mostly mestizo, a mix of indigenous and Spanish descendents. Which makes me think we are differing in which way to take isolation.
  Isolation from the Spanish during the period of la Gran Colombia is another head scratcher. What do you mean?
  There are communities that were long isolated and so, preserved (Palenques and tribes in the Amazon are clear examples).
  Is the culture from Antioquia different from the country? Partially, yes, as any region in a big, diverse country is. Were they isolated? I would say no.
  
  I would not call a region with a capital city that was founded in the 16 hundreds isolated.
  Are you talking about the current capital of Medellin (founded 1717) or the original capital Santa Fe de Antioquia (founded 1541). Santa Fe sits on the Cauca river which was the only way the Spanish were able to make it that far into the mountains. It would take them months to travel to places like Medellin, which is why it was isolated.
  Mestizo is just the spanish word for mixed person and fits all of Latin America as there are very few indigenous groups left.
  I am using isolation in the standard meaning. To mean separated. I do not mean uncontacted. Sure uncontacted tribes are isolated, but so where the Paisas. What you may be missing is people didn't just take a day trip into this region. The Spanish empire sent groups of people with the wealth and resources of a nation state, forcibly using indigenous slave labor to travel deep into the Andes. Once they arrived, it was rare that people left.
  The only way to get close was to use the rivers with human powered boats. Then you had to use established trails or cut through extremely dense dangerous forest. This kind of work took years to accomplish and was the result of generations of people slowly building up a colonized society at the will of the Spanish Monarchy. This is why most of the larger towns and cities in south weren't established until the 19th century.
  From wikipedia about the Paisas: The Paisas have been considered a genetically isolated population according to scientific studies.
  From wikipedia about Antioquia: Due to its geographical isolation, being located among mountains, Antioquia suffered supply problems. Its topography did not allow for much agriculture, so the city became dependent upon trade, especially of gold and gin for the colonization of new land.
  I was in Medellin and Jericó two weeks ago. The isolation is talked about in the museums and is well established fact. I just mean separated not unreachable.
- Fixing this problem requires something that won’t occur in our lifetimes.
  Hard, sad truths.

122 comments