Dominican Republic a sex tourism destination no longer

Santo Domingo.- Justice minister Francisco Dominguez on Thursdaysaid efforts are being made to keep the Dominican Republic from continue being asex tourism destination and prevent citizens from becoming victims of thatcrime, especially in the country’s resort districts.

Speaking at the opening of the First InternationalConference on Combating Online Child Pornography at Justice Ministryheadquarters, Dominguez said the country has the software and equipmentnecessary to fight that crime more effectively.

He said prosecutors work hard in those cases, with specialattention to Puerto Plata and Bavaro, Punta Cana. "In Puerto Plata we cansay that this practice has been almost eradicated, and in Bavaro we work todismantle the so-called little bunnies. We have coordinated actions with SouthAmerica and have really done a great job."

He said for the first time the Dominican Republic isrecognized as one of the most effective countries in the fight against humantrafficking, with more convictions in such cases and the dismantling of thosestructures.

"We have the need to fight this illegal activitythrough the social networks, so this conference is to complete the work we aredoing," Dominguez said, adding that child pornography is more serious inother developed countries.