Bogotá, Colombia. May 30, 2024. The District Institute of Tourism (IDT) together with the Chamber of Commerce of Bogota join forces to launch the pilot project 'Quinta Paredes: free and safe zone of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents - CSEC and human trafficking in Bogota in the context of tourism.

The launch event will take place on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at the Agora Convention Center (Calle 24 # 38-47. Side Lobby), starting at 10:00 am.

Quinta Paredes is a sector with a high concentration of tourists and is characterized as a business and events center in Bogota, with 2,922 active companies, 193 tourism service providers with active National Tourism Registry - RNT and 9 educational establishments, for this reason it was chosen as the first area, of several in the city, where this prevention strategy will operate.

During the launching, the methodology that will be implemented in the area to generate a culture of prevention, detection and denunciation will be explained, based on alliances between the public and private sectors and in conjunction with the citizens, in addition to complying with the governance objectives of the District Public Policy on Tourism.

The joint work with strategic allies that have joined the project, such as: the Active Network to Combat Human Trafficking, Corferias, COTELCO Bogotá - Cundinamarca Chapter, Inhotelcol, Bogotá Metropolitan Police, and the Renacer Foundation, will also be made visible.

In attendance will be government and business representatives such as Andrés Santamaría, Director of Turismo Bogotá; Ovidio Claros Polanco, Executive President of the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce; Rocío Mojica, Child Protection Officer of UNICEF Colombia; Denisse Velasquez, Deputy Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration IOM-UN; and Susan Andrea Avella, survivor of Fundación Dignidad Abolicionista.

The launch of this pilot represents a fundamental step towards the protection and promotion of responsible and safe tourism in Bogota.

The methodology implemented in Quinta Paredes will serve as a model to be replicated in other tourist areas of the city, strengthening the culture of prevention and reporting, and ensuring that Bogota consolidates itself as a tourist destination committed to the safety and well-being of its visitors and residents.