Montevideo, Dec. 7 — Uruguay has made a dramatic turnaround in addressing the serious problem of child sexual exploitation, reported expert Luis Purtscher.

The country did an about face from basically denying the situation several years ago with just 20 cases of sexual exploitation of children and teenagers identified between 2007 and 2009, to understanding its true dimensions and scope as a nationwide problem.

The Conapees committee to eradicate sexual exploitation of minors in Uruguay so far this year has handled 285 such cases, officials with the organization announced Wednesday.

The announcement came as part of the National Day of Struggle Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of children and teens in the South American nation, with Conapees together with Uruguay’s Institute for Children and Teenagers (INAU), presenting the 2nd National Plan (2016-2021) to raise awareness, increase research and training, and protect the public against sexual exploitation.

Purtscher, president of Conapees told the press that this 5-year program includes objectives such as educational campaigns and reforms to national laws and regulations.

“This is being done to be able to provide a response to a problem that until very recently was denied in Uruguay, and today it is evident that, unfortunately, it’s a reality the length and breadth of the country,” he said.

The plan is intended to bring about a nationwide public policy that guarantees people’s rights.

“In the court system, there have been advances, and this has been expressed in different reports that the judicial branch has requested regarding the number of people brought to trial on this matter,” Purtscher added.

Regarding the profile of exploited children, he said that, most are low-income minors aged 13 or older, adding that, “They usually have experienced other earlier forms of abuse.”

Also attending the presentation of the plan was INAU President Marisa Lindner, who called it “a step forward that will be approved by the executive branch via a decree.” EFE