In an attempt to curb sexual exploitation of minors, Medellin decided
to expand a night curfew for people under 18 to the city’s downtown
area.
According to Medellin mayor Alonso Salazar, the curfew, established last week for the poor comunas 3,4,5, and 6, will be compulsory for the downtown comuna 10 too.
The curfew ordinance prevents minors from being in the streets from 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM. It also bans the sale of liquor after midnight in those comunas.
The curfew seeks to reduce sexual exploitation of minors in places such as Parque Bolivar, Veracruz, Parque Berrio, Plaza Botero, the Metro’s neighboring streets, Juanambu, motels, and hotels. It also intents to check violence in neighborhoods such as La Candelaria, where according to official reports 109 people have been murdered so far this year.
A complicating factor for the measure is that the downtown area is where most homeless children live.
The downtown curfew in will be in effect next Thursday.