Argentina: Information about the following cults and/or prostitution rings: La Familia, La Familia del Amor and Los Niños de Dios and their involvement with or backing by the government, particularly by the State Intelligence Service (Servicio de Inteligencia del Estado - SIDE)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 April 1995 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ARG20403.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Argentina: Information about the following cults and/or prostitution rings: La Familia, La Familia del Amor and Los Niños de Dios and their involvement with or backing by the government, particularly by the State Intelligence Service (Servicio de Inteligencia del Estado - SIDE), 1 April 1995, ARG20403.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac213c.html [accessed 25 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
For general information on the above-mentioned cults and investigation's into their activities by the Argentine authorities, please consult the attachments. According to the attachments, these cults are not officially considered as prostitution rings.
However, at least one of them, The Family (La Familia), is reported to have been accused of "using female members to seduce prospective male members, and of encouraging children to engage in sexual practices" (AP 2 Sept. 1993). Twenty-one adults of this group have also been detained "on charges of corruption of minors and religious and racial discrimination" (AP 14 Dec. 1993). It is not clear from the sources consulted whether the name La Familia is a short form for La Familia del Amor.
The Argentine police has reportedly made formal accusations against the group Los Niños de Dios (Children of God) for "racketeering, violating members' human rights and sequestering children" (Newsday 2 Sept. 1993).
No information could be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB on governmental involvement and/or backing of these cults, or on the State Intelligence Service's relations with them.
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
The Associated Press (AP).14 December 1993. PM cycle. Vicente F. Lopez. "Argentine Cult Members Freed After Appeals Court Ruling." (NEXIS)
_____. 2 September 1993. AM cycle. Ian Katz. "Police Investigate Cult; Find Material Promoting Free Love." (NEXIS)
Newsday. 2 September 1993. Nassau and Suffolk Edition. "Argentina Holds Kids." (NEXIS)
Attachments
The Associated Press (AP). 14 December 1993. PM cycle. Vicente F. Lopez. "Argentine Cult Members Freed After Appeals Court Ruling." (NEXIS)
_____. 2 September 1993. AM cycle. Ian Katz. "Police Investigate Cult; Find Material Promoting Free Love." (NEXIS)
Newsday [New York]. 2 September 1993. Nassau and Suffolk Edition. "Argentina Holds Kids." (NEXIS)
St. Petersburg Times. 3 September 1993. City Edition. "Cult Said to Promote Child Sex." (NEXIS)
The Times-Picayune [New Orleans, La.]. 3 September 1993. "Cult Members Held." (NEXIS)
The United Press International (UPI). 9 September 1993. BC cycle. Pepper Rodriguez. "Followers of the Children of God sect..." (NEXIS)
_____. 6 September 1993. BC cycle. "Judge Begins Questioning Children of God Cult Suspects." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
FBIS.
Keesing's Record of World Events. September 1994-December 1994.
Newsweek. September 1993-December 1994.
Time Magazine. September 1993-December 1994.
On-line searches.
Oral sources.
