Peru: Proliferation of Prostitution Bars in Madre de Dios

On May 28, 2013 La República reported on the recent proliferation of “prostitution bars” in the mining area of Madre de Dios. According to La República, a lack of punishment, the establishment of illegal mining and the collusion of some authorities in the mining corridor have encouraged this practice. An estimated 400 prostitution bars are currently operating in Madre de Dios, some of which are alleged to engage in the sexual exploitation of underage children.

The prostitution bars in Madre de Dios are multiplying and even gaining operating licenses as bars, restaurants and brothels, while municipal and police authorities of the Tambopata province remain passive or complicit. Since 2008, the Madre de Dios prosecutor’s office has seen 351 cases of human trafficking, of which only three have resulted in sentencing. The vast majority of complaints have been dismissed or are still in the preliminary stage of investigation. Read Article