Dominican Republic judges warn of digital child exploitation

The Dominican Republic's Judicial Power and the National School of the Judiciary (ENJ) hosted an online panel titled “Trabajo Infantil en el Entorno Digital: Protección Legal de la Niñez, Víctima de Abuso y Explotación Sexual Comercial”. Judge Josefina Bernabel of the Court of Appeal for Children, Youth and Adolescents in San Cristóbal explained the legal framework, noting that abuse can begin without physical contact and that Dominican law and international instruments protect children and sanction offenders.

Prosecutor Yoanna Bejarán, head of the Specialized Prosecutor's Office against Illegal Migrant Trafficking and Human Trafficking (PETT), reported that 98 % of identified cases involve digital recruitment. She described tactics such as grooming, use of fake profiles, anonymity and identity theft, and highlighted common exploitation modalities including Gaming Exploitation, Click Farms and online commercial platforms.

Psychologist Richard León discussed the long‑term mental health effects on child victims, warning that digital exploitation can leave psychological trauma lasting decades. The panel emphasized the need for timely, victim‑sensitive investigations that protect privacy and dignity, and reported attendance by more than 250 participants.