Mexico ranks first in human trafficking and child abuse

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) stated in a January report that “Mexico ranks first in child sexual abuse; first in exploitation, homicides, and trafficking of minors; and first in creation and distribution of child pornography.”

According to UNICEF, child pornography is one of the most lucrative businesses in the world after drug trafficking, with earnings estimated at $7 billion a year.

Sister Teresa Santillán, a Xaverian religious and also a member of Rahamim, explained that this network of religious in Mexico “was started in 2013 out of concern for how human trafficking was growing. Sometimes it’s associated with prostitution or farm work, because [the victims] can do field work. But it has many purposes; it mainly affects women and girls.”