Tulum, Q.R. — A young girl was removed from a child labor situation in Tulum Tuesday by local Geavig authorities. The Specialized Group for Attention to Domestic and Gender Violence (Geavig) officer was seen approaching the young girl who was located in the company of an adult woman selling food on the street.
According to the SSC of Tulum, the woman with the young girl was unable to provide any personal information about the child, prompting authorities to investigate a case of forced child labor.
The incident was reported Tuesday around 4:30 p.m. at the intersection of Osiris Street and Tulum Avenue where the woman and child were seen selling items to motorists and general passersby.
In a statement, the Secretaría de Seguridad Pública y Protección Ciudadana of Tulum reported on the official intervention.
“In response to content circulating on social media showing personnel from the Grupo Especializado de Atención a la Violencia Intrafamiliar y de Género (GEAVIG) approaching a girl in public, the SSPyPC reports the following:
“Tuesday at 4:39 p.m. at the intersection of Osiris Street and Tulum Avenue, GEAVIG personnel acted in accordance with established protocols for the prevention and eradication of child labor after detecting a girl selling food on the street.
“This type of intervention is carried out with complete respect and care, prioritizing the best interests of children. The objective of the action was to safeguard the physical and emotional integrity of the minor, since child labor is an issue that exposes children to multiple risks.
“During the approach, the adult accompanying the girl was unable to provide general information or clear information about the minor, a situation that reinforces the importance of immediate and preventive action by specialized personnel.
“GEAVIG’s primary function is to address, prevent and eradicate all forms of violence and abuse against girls, boys, and adolescents,” said the Secretaría de Seguridad Pública y Protección Ciudadana de Tulum.
