The suspected teenage pimp was identified by her victims, who claimed that she managed the criminal operation alongside “La Gaby” and “La Andrea,” who helped recruit and collect payments.
Police reports indicated that “La Perucha,” only 16 years old, had been operating for over a year and a half. Twenty individuals were arrested in connection with the case, five as direct members of the organization and the rest as accomplices. The FELCC investigated the network’s online recruitment strategies, uncovering links to other teenage perpetrators.
Operations were based in a brothel in the 12 de Octubre area of El Alto, offering services from girls aged 13 to 19. Clients were contacted via social media, with prices as high as Bs 600 for a 13-year-old girl. Many victims were previously reported missing and were rescued during police raids.
One 16-year-old girl was found wandering the streets after escaping a location where she was sexually exploited. Her account highlighted a disturbing pattern: victims themselves being used to lure new victims, often under coercion but sometimes voluntarily, blurring the line between victim and offender.
A GENDERED AND STRUCTURAL VULNERABILITY
This phenomenon reflects broader issues rooted in gender inequality and patriarchal norms that reduce female sexuality to servitude and control, particularly affecting adolescent girls. The 1995 Beijing Declaration urged states to address the health and safety risks posed by domestic, sexual, and institutional violence against women and girls.
Despite calls for access to sexual and reproductive health services, many adolescents lack adequate support systems, making them easy targets for commercial sexual exploitation, pimping, and human trafficking. Often, those who lead trafficking networks were initially victims themselves, shaped by toxic gender ideologies and systemic neglect.
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Articles 34 and 35 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child obligate states to protect children from all forms of sexual abuse and exploitation and to take all necessary steps to prevent their sale, abduction, or trafficking. The Optional Protocol on the sale of children and child prostitution sets additional binding obligations.
Bolivia’s Constitution (Articles 58–61) guarantees the rights of children and adolescents, affirming in Article 60 the State’s duty to prioritize their best interests. Article 61 explicitly prohibits all forms of violence against minors, whether in the family or society.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
Law No. 548 (Children and Adolescents Code) and Law No. 263 (Comprehensive Law Against Human Trafficking and Smuggling) both prioritize the best interests of the child. Law 548 ensures access to sexual and reproductive health services and protection against sexual violence.
Law No. 263 also aims to prevent the re-victimization of survivors, offering legal protection to both victims and witnesses. The Penal Code, through Articles 281 bis, 321, and 322, criminalizes human trafficking, pimping, and commercial sexual violence, with penalties ranging from 8 to 20 years in prison.
Adolescents in vulnerable circumstances—due to poverty, abuse, family breakdown, or social marginalization—are often exploited during their search for identity. This creates a high-risk environment where they may become both victims and offenders.
LEGAL APPLICABILITY AND THE CHALLENGES OF REHABILITATION
For example, the crime of human trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation carries a maximum adult sentence of 20 years. Under Article 268, four-fifths (16 years) are deducted, leaving a 4-year sentence in a closed juvenile rehabilitation center.
Article 347 of Law 548 allows adolescents to request a substitution or suspension of this sentence after serving half the term—meaning a 2-year period before applying for alternatives such as house arrest. However, without effective rehabilitation, there is a risk of recidivism and reintegration into trafficking networks.
RISKS IN JUVENILE FACILITIES
In La Paz, adolescents serving socio-educational sentences are housed at the Women’s Social Reintegration Center. However, due to shared living arrangements, there is a risk that offenders of serious crimes like trafficking may influence others detained for less severe offenses, potentially creating new victims within the system.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Sexual violence against children and adolescents is a highly profitable criminal enterprise. Traffickers and pimps—often even relatives—target vulnerable minors, grooming them to join exploitation networks either through coercion or seduction.
Despite the existence of extensive national and international legal frameworks, the dual victim-offender dynamic among adolescent girls complicates the effectiveness of justice and rehabilitation. Law No. 548 provides a framework for juvenile criminal responsibility with reduced sentencing, but it also presents risks of recidivism and peer corruption in detention centers.
Institutions like the Office for the Defense of Children and Adolescents and Sartasim Kullakita continue to play a crucial role in rehabilitation, defending the best interests of minors and restoring their rights and development pathways.
To prevent commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking of minors, comprehensive sexual education for adolescents, parents, and educators is essential. Authorities must also strengthen prevention, early detection, and intervention mechanisms, and address the social and ideological factors that create vulnerability in youth.
If you believe you need legal advice after reading this article, don’t hesitate to contact one of our specialized attorneys. We are here to support you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can an adolescent be both a victim and an offender in human trafficking cases?
Yes. Adolescents are sometimes coerced or voluntarily recruited into trafficking networks. They may start as victims but later take on roles that implicate them as offenders.
What law governs juvenile criminal responsibility in Bolivia?
Law No. 548 (Children and Adolescents Code) governs the juvenile criminal system and establishes reduced penalties and specialized treatment for adolescents aged 14 to 17.
How is the penalty reduced for adolescent offenders?
Article 268 of Law No. 548 mandates that the maximum penalty is reduced by four-fifths. For example, a 20-year sentence becomes 4 years for an adolescent.
Can socio-educational sentences be modified?
Yes. After serving half the sentence, the adolescent may request a suspension or substitution of the custodial measure, such as transitioning to house arrest.
What institutions help rehabilitate adolescent victims of sexual exploitation?
The Office for the Defense of Children and Adolescents and shelters like Sartasim Kullakita provide multidisciplinary support to help victims recover and reintegrate.
- Aillón, S., Campos, G., & Domic, J. (2002). Explotación sexual de niñas, niños y adolescentes en La Paz y El Alto. La Paz, Bolivia.
- Busuttil, F. (2015). Trata de niños: La lucha contra la trata infantil.
- Castellanos Gómez, R. (2019). La trata de personas y su vinculación con la niñez migrante no acompañada. UNAM.
- Contreras Marulanda, M. (2019). La prostitución de las mujeres, un obstáculo para alcanzar la igualdad. Barcelona: Bellaterra.
- Del Toro Ramírez, O.G. (2012). La vulnerabilidad de género en la trata de personas en situación de explotación sexual en Tijuana.
- El Diario. (2019, May 14). Menor de edad cabecilla de red de trata y tráfico.
- Ley N° 263. Ley Integral Contra la Trata y Tráfico de Personas. Gaceta Oficial de Bolivia, 2012.
- Organización de Naciones Unidas. Protocolo para prevenir, reprimir y sancionar la trata de personas, especialmente mujeres y niños.
The content of this article does not reflect the technical opinion of Rigoberto Paredes & Associates and should not be considered a substitute for legal advice. The information presented herein corresponds to the date of publication and may be outdated at the time of reading. Rigoberto Paredes & Associates assumes no responsibility for keeping the information in this article up to date, as legal regulations may change over time.
