Every 13 November, Argentina commemorates the National Day for the Fight against Grooming, in honour of the enactment of Law No. 26.904 in 2013, which criminalises grooming in the Penal Code. This legal framework establishes a penalty of six months to four years in prison for those who, through digital media, contact a minor for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The date seeks to raise awareness and promote the protection of minors on the internet, facing a growing problem.
Grooming is a form of online harassment and manipulation in which an adult gains the trust of a minor to sexually exploit him or her, either by obtaining intimate content or, in some cases, through a face-to-face encounter. This harassment occurs mainly on digital platforms, such as social networks, messaging apps and video games.
In 2020, Argentina strengthened its online child protection legislation with Law 27.590, or Ley Mica Ortega, in memory of Micaela Ortega, a 12-year-old girl from Bahía Blanca who was a victim of grooming and murder in 2016. This law stresses the importance of education and prevention, promoting awareness programmes in institutions to involve minors and their families in online protection.
The Specialised Cybercrime Prosecution Unit (UFECI), part of the Public Prosecutor's Office, plays a key role in the fight against grooming in Argentina. The UFECI is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting cybercrime, including grooming, and is responsible for receiving complaints, analysing and tracking cybercrime to protect minors in digital environments. During the pandemic, reports of grooming to UFECI increased, reflecting an increase in this type of harassment due to the increased use of the internet by minors.
Globally, grooming has escalated rapidly due to the massive access to the internet and the use of mobile devices among minors. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that in the last decade, cases of internet-facilitated child abuse have increased by 30%. In addition, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported more than 32 million cases of online child exploitation in 2023, of which 60% involved grooming.
Prevention and education are essential in the fight against grooming, and on this National Anti-Grooming Day, the commitment of society and authorities is essential to create safe digital environments for all children and adolescents in Argentina.
