Girls rescued from sexual exploitation embrace their new life. Credit: Courtesy of Grupo Luna Nueva. But her hopes for a better life vanished quickly and, as she found herself penniless and unprotected, she took to working the streets.
The NGO has a team which goes out into the streets to identify girls and adolescents in situations of social risk. Then we tell them what Luna Nueva has to offer them," said Erika Almeida, who heads the team. At this stage, Luna Nueva conducts a psychological evaluation of the sexually exploited girl, explores her relationship with her family and assesses her school situation.
These are then used to make a general diagnosis, establish the priorities in terms of care, and draw up a personalised plan, which is carried out over several months. The rescued girls are offered the possibility of living at the centre β even bringing their children with them, in the case of young mothers β or of continuing in the programme as external participants.
The only requirement is that they get out of the sex trade. In exchange, they receive psychological counselling, are incorporated into some form of work and participate in activities that encourage them to express themselves.
Claudia went back to school and slowly began rebuilding her relationship with her parents and siblings, which she had shied away from as she had been badly abused at home. Almeida explained that the girls who work in the market selling goods are often only able to sell their merchandise if they agree to have sex with the buyer. Many underage girls are also hired as domestics in what is actually a "front" for their subsequent sexual exploitation, according to a study conducted by the organisation in March.
