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Protect, Educate, Empower

Partner with us in our mission to eradicate child exploitation and create a world where every child can grow up safe, empowered, and loved. Together, we can give children the future they deserve.

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About Us

Marianco is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting children from the horrors of trafficking, exploitation and abuse. Founded by Francisco Padilla, a former street orphan from Cartagena, Colombia, Marianco is committed to safeguarding the rights of children and ensuring they have a future full of hope and opportunities. We believe that every child deserves to grow up in a world where they are protected, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential.

Learn more about our work

Our Focus Areas

  • Children with their arms on each others shoulders looking at a lake

    Combatting Child Trafficking

    Dedicated to ending the horrific practice of child trafficking. Join us in the fight to protect vulnerable children and restore their freedom and dignity.

  • Children in a circle holding hands standing in a circle

    Fighting Against Child Pornography

    Unwavering in our commitment to eradicating child pornography. Stand with us to protect children and eliminate this crime.

  • Children sitting on a wall

    Eradicating Child Prostitution

    Marianco is dedicated to ending child prostitution. Stand with us to protect children and give them the future they deserve.

What We Do

  • Protection

    We work to prevent child trafficking through education and community awareness programs.

  • Education

    Organizing educational workshops, scholarships, and mentoring programs to help individuals grow.

  • Empowerment

    Fostering economic independence by providing skills training and community support.

A World in Peril
The Alarming Reality of Child Exploitation

Alarming Numbers

  • 1.2 million

    Children trafficked annually

  • 1 million

    Children in commercial sex trade

  • 70% - 80%

    Child trafficking victims are girls

  • 69 million

    Reports of abuse images annually

    • * These numbers vary across sources, and actual figures can be challenging to verify due to the hidden nature of these crimes

Upcoming Events

Join us in making a difference. Participate in our upcoming events and initiatives.

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Featured Articles

Discover our latest insights, research, and stories about protecting children and creating lasting change.

ChatGpt and child abuse

October 28, 2025

ChatGpt and child abuse

The clock is ticking. Every day we wait to address AI-generated child sexual abuse material is another day predators get ahead of law enforcement. OpenAI recently announced that ChatGPT will permit erotic content for age-verified adults. The company has framed this decision as a way of respecting adult autonomy. But this decision, opens a floodgate that could accelerate one of the most urgent threats facing children today: the explosion of AI-generated child sexual abuse material (AI-CSAM). The numbers are already terrifying. And they're getting worse by the day.

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The ethics of researching child abuse

October 24, 2025

The ethics of researching child abuse

There are different kinds of ways we can use to find information about child abuse cases, BUT surveying remains one of the most effective methods. To survey child abuse, a complex process that requires strict ethical protocols and specialized methods, researchers must prioritize the safety and well-being of participants. A survey can target the prevalence of abuse in a population or be used for screening and clinical assessment in healthcare settings. HOWEVER, there are many ethical considerations before conducting such research such as age, anonymity

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Child Molestation and Sexual Exploitation in Africa: Confronting a Silent Emergency

October 17, 2025

Child Molestation and Sexual Exploitation in Africa: Confronting a Silent Emergency

Across Africa, millions of children are growing up under the shadow of sexual violence and exploitation. Behind closed doors, in schools, in refugee camps, and increasingly across digital spaces, countless boys and girls face abuses that rob them of dignity, safety, and the promise of a better future. The crisis is urgent — yet too often invisible. It demands not only compassion but also coordinated, sustained action from governments, communities, and international partners.

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The Invisible Web: How Traffickers Trick Children

October 16, 2025

The Invisible Web: How Traffickers Trick Children

Child trafficking doesn't announce itself with violence or force. It begins quietly with a friendly message, a job offer, or a promise of something better. In cities and small towns alike, child trafficking operates through an invisible web that stretches across borders and screens. This multi-billion-dollar crime doesn't resemble the dramatic abductions we see in movies. Instead, it hides behind trusted faces, false promises, and everyday transactions. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, nearly one in three trafficking victims worldwide is a child, and the majority are exploited without ever crossing a border.

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How AI is Revolutionizing the Fight Against Smuggling and Human Trafficking

October 8, 2025

How AI is Revolutionizing the Fight Against Smuggling and Human Trafficking

Human trafficking and smuggling are deeply intertwined issues affecting millions around the globe. Smugglers often exploit vulnerable populations, luring individuals with false promises of better opportunities. As these networks become more sophisticated, law enforcement agencies face overwhelming challenges in tracking and apprehending criminals while also identifying and assisting victims. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool in various fields, and its application in detecting smugglers and victims of human trafficking is proving to be a game changer. With the increasing complexities of global smuggling networks and the urgency of human rights issues, AI technologies are being employed to enhance monitoring, data analysis, and investigative processes. Although AI has the potential to do all these things, it has been underutilized in the field and there should be a push from NGOs and agencies to use the technology.

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How Europe Fought Child Labor, A Historical Perspective

September 2, 2025

How Europe Fought Child Labor, A Historical Perspective

Child labor has been a pervasive issue throughout history, especially during the Industrial Revolution in Europe, when the demand for cheap labor forced many children into factories, mines, and mills. As society gradually recognized the exploitation faced by these young workers, significant efforts emerged to combat child labor across the continent. Understanding how Europe addressed this social issue sheds light on the value placed on childhood innocence and education, which continues to resonate today.

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