Claudia was 13 years old when she came to the capital of Paraguay from her small rural town. Her story replicates that of so many other girls and adolescents who every day fall into the clutches of child sex trade rings in Paraguay, one of the countries of Latin America where this heinous crime most flourishes. But her hopes for a better life vanished quickly and, as she found herself penniless and unprotected, she took to working the streets.
The NGO has a team which goes out into the streets to identify girls and adolescents in situations of social risk. Then we tell them what Luna Nueva has to offer them," said Erika Almeida, who heads the team. At this stage, Luna Nueva conducts a psychological evaluation of the sexually exploited girl, explores her relationship with her family and assesses her school situation.
These are then used to make a general diagnosis, establish the priorities in terms of care, and draw up a personalised plan, which is carried out over several months. The rescued girls are offered the possibility of living at the centre - even bringing their children with them, in the case of young mothers - or of continuing in the programme as external participants.
The only requirement is that they get out of the sex trade. In exchange, they receive psychological counselling, are incorporated into some form of work and participate in activities that encourage them to express themselves. When Luna Nueva finds them, many don't even know how to read and write, and by gaining access to education, new opportunities open up for them and they establish a new relationship with their environment.
Claudia went back to school and slowly began rebuilding her relationship with her parents and siblings, which she had shied away from as she had been badly abused at home. There's always the chance that they will leave the programme, and many times the girls' own families - mired in poverty and a loss of values - are the ones that persuade them to drop out.
