Chilean bill proposes 24/7 security guards for minors' care homes

A new bill introduced by Chilean lawmaker Francesca Muñoz seeks to require residential care centers for minors to provide 24-hour security guards, every day of the year, adhering to private security law standards. The proposal aims to shield children and adolescents under state care from sexual exploitation networks and criminal recruitment. If enacted, collaborating organizations would have six months to comply with the new requirement. The bill's justification highlights alarming figures within the child protection system. In 2024 alone, the National Service for Specialized Protection identified more than 400 minors at risk of sexual exploitation. Furthermore, reports from the Children's Ombudsman reveal a 73% increase in denunciations of such crimes between 2022 and 2024. Muñoz emphasized the vulnerability of these young individuals, stating that the proposed security measures are crucial to prevent further harm and ensure a safer environment for children in state custody.

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The motion seeks to curb the vulnerability of children and adolescents under state tutelage against networks of sexual exploitation and criminal recruitment.