Juan Santamaría International Airport Implements Protocol to Combat Child Exploitation, Advancing Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: A Landmark Initiative for Child Protection

Juan Santamaría International Airport (AIJS) is set to become the first airport in Central America to implement a specialized protocol to prevent, detect, and respond to the commercial sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. This initiative, led by the airport’s managing company AERIS, represents a significant contribution to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), specifically Target 16.2, which calls for an end to abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against children. By integrating principles of human rights and prevention into its core operations, AIJS aims to transform a high-traffic public space into a safe environment for vulnerable populations.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The protocol is a multi-faceted strategy that directly supports several key SDGs through its design and collaborative implementation:

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The protocol establishes a robust institutional framework to protect children from exploitation and trafficking, strengthening justice mechanisms within the airport ecosystem.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The initiative exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership, uniting the private sector (AERIS, Volaris), civil society organizations (PANIAMOR Foundation, ECPAT Mexico), and public institutions (General Directorate of Migration, Airport Police) to achieve a common goal.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: By addressing a crime that disproportionately affects girls, the protocol contributes to Target 5.2, which aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, including trafficking and sexual exploitation.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The initiative aligns with Target 8.7 by taking effective measures to end modern slavery and human trafficking, demonstrating corporate social responsibility within a major economic hub.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The protocol works towards making a critical public infrastructure hub safer and more inclusive, in line with Target 11.7’s objective to provide universal access to safe public spaces for vulnerable groups, including children.

Protocol Framework and Implementation

The operationalization of the protocol involves a comprehensive, system-wide approach to ensure its effectiveness. Key components include:

1. Universal Application: The protocol’s jurisdiction extends across the entire airport community, including airline operators, commercial tenants, administrative personnel, subcontractors, and security authorities, ensuring a unified front against exploitation.
2. The “ECPAT Code” Alert Mechanism: A central feature is the activation of the “ECPAT Code,” an immediate alert system that facilitates rapid coordination with competent authorities upon a well-founded suspicion of child sexual exploitation. A preliminary review by trained personnel ensures appropriate and sensitive handling of each case.
3. Capacity Building and Awareness: AERIS will launch an extensive training and awareness campaign for all airport staff and strategic partners. This fosters a culture of vigilance and prevention, with participating organizations replicating the training internally to maximize reach.
4. Monitoring and Accountability: A system will be established to formally record all alerts and monitor subsequent actions. This data will enable the systematic evaluation of the protocol’s effectiveness and ensure long-term accountability, contributing to the principle of strong institutions (SDG 16).

Stakeholder Collaboration and Regional Impact

The success of this initiative is built upon the collaborative framework defined by SDG 17. The PANIAMOR Foundation, a Costa Rican child protection organization, highlighted the critical need for coordination between the state, private sector, and civil society to combat crimes often linked to organized networks. The technical support from ECPAT Mexico and Volaris further strengthens this partnership.

This initiative is positioned to serve as a regional milestone and a replicable best practice for other transportation hubs. By embedding a commitment to child protection into its operational fabric, AERIS and its partners aim to promote a message of shared responsibility among the more than six million annual passengers and over 100 companies operating at AIJS, reinforcing the airport’s role as a vigilant and humane space dedicated to upholding fundamental human rights.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• This goal is central to the article as the initiative directly aims to “prevent, detect, and respond to cases of commercial sexual exploitation of children and adolescents.” This aligns with SDG 16’s focus on ending violence against children and promoting justice through strong institutions like the airport authority and national police.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The article addresses the crime of “commercial sexual exploitation,” which is a form of modern slavery and human trafficking. This connects to SDG 8, which seeks to eradicate forced labor and human trafficking.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• While the article refers to “children and adolescents” generally, sexual exploitation is a crime that disproportionately affects women and girls. Therefore, the protocol contributes to SDG 5’s aim of eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls, including trafficking and sexual exploitation.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The article heavily emphasizes the collaborative nature of the initiative. It highlights the joint leadership of “AERIS, the airport’s managing company, in collaboration with national authorities and child protection organizations.” This multi-stakeholder partnership, involving the private sector (AERIS, Volaris), public sector (General Directorate of Migration, Airport Police), and civil society (PANIAMOR Foundation, ECPAT Mexico), is a core principle of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

1. Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

• The article’s entire focus is on implementing a “specialized protocol to prevent, detect, and respond to cases of commercial sexual exploitation of children and adolescents,” which is a direct action towards achieving this target.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

1. Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking…

• The protocol is described as a “concrete action to prevent, identify, and address the sexual exploitation of minors,” which the article notes is “often linked to organized crime.” This directly contributes to the eradication of human trafficking as called for in this target.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

1. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.

• By creating a system to combat sexual exploitation in a high-traffic public space like an airport, the initiative works to eliminate one of the most severe forms of violence and exploitation that disproportionately impacts girls.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

1. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…

• The article explicitly details such a partnership, stating the initiative is “jointly led by AERIS… in collaboration with national authorities… and child protection organizations” like the PANIAMOR Foundation and ECPAT Mexico. The Executive Director of PANIAMOR highlights the need for “strong coordination between the state, the private sector, and civil society.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

For Targets 16.2, 8.7, and 5.2

• Implementation of a specialized protocol: The article states the protocol “will take effect this month,” making its existence and application a primary indicator of action.
• Number of alerts recorded: The article mentions, “A system will also be established to record alerts,” implying that the number of alerts generated will be a key metric.
• Number of follow-up actions monitored: The same system will “monitor follow-up actions,” providing data on the response to identified cases.
• Systematic evaluation of the protocol’s effectiveness: The article directly states this will be done to “ensure long-term accountability,” serving as a qualitative and quantitative indicator of success.

For Target 17.17

• Establishment of a multi-stakeholder partnership: The formal collaboration between AERIS, Volaris, national authorities, PANIAMOR, and ECPAT is a direct indicator of this partnership’s existence.
• Number of personnel and partners trained: The plan to launch an “awareness and training campaign targeting all airport staff and strategic partners” implies that the number of people and organizations trained will be a measure of the partnership’s reach and effectiveness.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ticotimes.net