International

Inhygienic conditions and risky sexual acts: the reality of webcamers in Colombia

Webcam women who work in studios in Colombia, a country considered a “mecca” for this industry, are exposed to unhygienic conditions, forced to risky sexual practices and subjected to 18-hour days without breaks, according to a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report published this Monday.

The report “‘I learned to say no’: Labor abuse and sexual exploitation in Colombian webcam studies”, based on the 18-month work of researchers with two sex workers’ organizations in Colombia and interviews with more than fifty webcam women, exposes the violations of labor rights and sexual exploitation in Colombian studies in Bogotá, Medellín, Cali and Palmira.

Colombia, the country with the most webcam women

It is estimated that Colombia is the country with the largest number of webcamers who work mainly in studios, where they are victims of labor exploitation and in precarious conditions, even subject to sexual abuse.

“Sexual exploitation is not inherent to webcam models, but our study indicates that the risk of exploitation in Colombian studies is extremely high,” says HRW researcher Erin Kilbride.

The author of the investigation points out that “sex workers deserve the same labor protections as all workers under international human rights law, but the webcam industry, which moves billions of dollars, has largely avoided scrutiny of abuses in its supply chains.”

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The case of María

María, 33, works from a 1×2 meter cubicle, separated by curtains, in a studio in Bogotá where she works 12-hour shifts doing sexual transmissions for men around the world.

Every day she receives the cubicle with body fluids, cigarette ash and hair from the previous worker because the study does not hire people to clean, but more than the deplorable hygienic conditions, “the worst is the mental health problems,” especially because of the constant surveillance to which she is subjected by the owners.

“A spectator wanted me to simulate a rape and I didn’t want to, but I needed the money. (…) Normally, if a client wants something that I don’t, I simply say ‘no’ and leave the chat. But the owners of the studio constantly harassed me and entered the cubicle (when they saw me say ‘no’ to a client). Streaming platforms allow you to report abusive users, but it is impossible to report violence in the studio,” says the young woman.

Maria’s story is repeated in other interviewees. A 29-year-old transgender Bolivian woman who worked in a studio in Bogotá said that when she asked her manager to finish a penetration performance due to extreme pain, she told her that she could not stop because it damaged her score on the web.

Another model was forced to insert a glass bottle for fear that it would break inside.

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Abuses of “studies”

On average, studies keep between 50 and 65% of the income of young women, some even reach 70%, and in the workplace there are from lack of ventilation to bedbugs and cockroaches.

“Working conditions include wage theft, fines for taking breaks to eat and go to the bathroom, and computer keyboards, mice and furniture covered with body fluids from other employees. The workers developed rashes and infections and lacked mental health support,” the report highlights.

In addition, they are subjected to verbal abuse and threats by the owners of the studios, who force them to work many hours without food or water and to perform sexual acts to which they had not given their consent.

All those interviewed for the report freely chose to work as webcam models, but all of them felt surprised, disappointed or deceived by the conditions of their work, including learning about their salary or the sexual acts they were forced to perform, the report indicates.

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International

Man arrested after deliberately driving into seven children in Osaka

Japanese police arrested a man on Thursday after he rammed his car into a group of seven schoolchildren in an apparent deliberate attack in the city of Osaka.

The children, who were on their way home from school, sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital. All seven remained conscious, according to local authorities.

An Osaka police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the suspect is a 28-year-old man from Tokyo. The officer shared statements the man made after his arrest: “I was fed up with everything, so I decided to kill people by driving into several elementary school children,” the suspect reportedly said.

The man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

The injured children, aged between seven and eight, included a seven-year-old girl who suffered a fractured jaw. The six other children—all boys—suffered minor injuries such as bruises and scratches and were undergoing medical evaluation.

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Witnesses described the car as “zigzagging” before hitting the children. One witness told Nippon TV that a girl was “covered in blood” and the others appeared to have scratches.

Another witness said the driver, who was wearing a face mask, looked to be in shock when school staff pulled him from the vehicle.

Violent crimes are rare in Japan, though serious incidents do occur from time to time. In 2008, Tomohiro Kato drove a two-ton truck into pedestrians in Tokyo’s Akihabara district, then fatally stabbed several victims. Seven people were killed in that attack.

Internacionales

Clashes erupt during may day protests across France amid calls for better wages

May Day protests in France were marked by a heavy police presence and clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement in several cities.

In Paris, Lyon, and Nantes, thousands took to the streets to demand better wages, fairer working conditions, and to voice their dissatisfaction with President Emmanuel Macron’s government.

While the majority of the demonstrations remained peaceful, isolated confrontations broke out in some areas. Protesters threw objects at the police, prompting the use of tear gas and resulting in several arrests.

Videos showing police crackdowns circulated widely on social media, drawing criticism from labor unions and human rights advocates, who denounced the authorities’ response to the protests.

International

Kristi Noem credits Trump for mass migrant deportations by mexican president

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claimed that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has deported “more than half a million” migrants due to pressure from former President Donald Trump.

During a cabinet meeting highlighting the “achievements” of Trump’s administration in its first 100 days, Noem asserted that under the Republican leader’s influence, “Mexico has finally come to the table” to negotiate on migration and fentanyl trafficking.

“The president of Mexico told me she has returned just over half a million people before they reached our border,” Noem stated, criticizing media reports that suggest the Biden administration deported more migrants than Trump’s.

“I wish those deportations were counted,” Noem added, “because those people never made it to our border—she sent them back because you made her.” She went on to thank Trump: “They never made it here because they got the message—because you were so aggressive.”

Noem has made controversial claims about Sheinbaum in the past, prompting the Mexican leader to refute them.

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On April 1, Sheinbaum responded to one such statement by declaring, “The president answers to only one authority, and that is the people of Mexico,” after Noem said on Fox News that she gave Sheinbaum “a list of things Trump would like to see” and that Mexico’s actions would determine whether Trump granted tariff relief.