The Port-au-Prince prosecutor’s office announced an increase in its actions against the presence of underage girls in nightclubs and hotels in the capital.
The Port-au-Prince prosecutor’s office has announced that it will be stepping up its efforts against the presence of underage girls in nightclubs and hotels in the capital. The government commissioner at the Port-au-Prince court of first instance, Me Jean Fritz Patterson Dorval, says that a weekend on-call system has been set up to carry out inspections in these establishments. According to him, the goal is to prevent sexual exploitation and sexual violence against teenage girls aged 15 to 16.Faced with this situation, the head of the public prosecutor’s office said he is concerned about the presence of underage girls in these entertainment venues until 3 a.m., and some of them engage in risky behaviors, including drinking a lot of alcohol and having sexual relations with adults. This puts them at risk of various forms of violence and exploitation.Me Dorval told me that an operation carried out last Saturday led to the arrest of several minors. They were handed back to their parents after the intervention. The head of the Port-au-Prince prosecutor’s office also noted that a 15-year-old girl was found in a hotel room with a 23-year-old man.
The government commissioner confirmed that the public prosecutor’s investigations also target the managers of establishments that admit minors. He warns nightclub and hotel owners who might host teenagers. According to the head of the prosecutor’s office, these people will have to answer for their violations and face legal proceedings and penalties.
Lawyer Dorval also pointed out the growing number of hotels being built in certain residential areas. According to him, this situation could expose young teenagers to sexual activities and contribute to their early attendance at these establishments.The head of the public prosecutor’s office took the opportunity to advise young women wishing to enter these places to carry their national ID card, so that the establishment managers and authorities can check that they are of legal age.
Later on, Judge Dorval made a call to parents, urging them to be more vigilant with their children. “We can’t let society sink further into this drift,” said Jean Fritz Patterson Dorval, while also giving a warning to club and hotel owners who don’t comply with the rules regarding minors’ access to their establishments.
