Controversy in the Dominican Republic over children dancing sensually on social media
A series of videos published on social networks in which children appear dancing in an inappropriate way and a mother dancing with her son have unleashed a scandal in the Dominican Republic, in which Unicef intervened this Wednesday.
The most prominent case is that of the urban singer Don Miguelo, who is under arrest and in the eye of the storm for spreading videos on social networks in which girls appear dancing in a sensual way.
The Public Ministry requested jail measures against Don Miguelo, who could face a sentence of between 1 and 2 years in prison for violating the Code of Boys, Girls, and Adolescents.
The authorities arrested him at the beginning of the week after users of social networks denounced a video in which three minors appear dancing to his song “And what was it” for a challenge promoted by the singer, interpreter of local hits such as “Cola of motor “and “The seven crazy ones “.
In his defense, Don Miguelo explained that this material is part of the “so many” videos that he receives “every minute” from followers who send them “with the hope” that he will publish them on their social media profiles, as well as from parents who have “the aspiration” to see their daughters appear on the artist’s Instagram, which has accumulated 4.4 million followers.
At the same time, he assured that his intention was not to “promote morbid” since he does not need “those resources” to popularize his music or to gain followers “much less to generate controversy.”
An influencer and her son
The controversy generated by Don Miguelo was joined by that of the influencer Mami Jordan, who published a video in which he dances in a suggestive sexual way with his minor son.
In the material, the woman who insists on dancing with the child is observed, moving her buttocks against the child’s legs, although he refuses, and is a part of the video, she climbs on top of him simulating a sexual act.
This video has caused a scandal in the Dominican Republic and many people from the public sphere have asked Justice to act.
Unicef’s reaction
The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) expressed concern on Wednesday about the recent broadcasting on social networks of children exposed to situations of hypersexualization and asked the Dominican authorities and society to protect minors avoiding their re-victimization “and ensuring at all times respect for their intrinsic dignity “.
In a statement, the representative of the UN body in the country, Rosa Elcarte, considered that the hypersexualization of minors “is an entrance to the normalization of sexual abuse, child marriage, and sexual exploitation. And as such, it cannot be accepted under any circumstances. There is no excuse to diminish the importance and seriousness of this situation”.
At the same time, she recalled that both the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Code on the National System for the Protection of Children and Adolescents of the Dominican Republic recognizes that all minors under 18 have the right to personal integrity.
She also indicated that these days, due to the confinement by COVID-19, there is a greater risk that children and adolescents are witnesses or suffer violence and abuse.
