Grey Mexico and Save The Children Reveal Prevalence of Criminal Adoption

As part of the month of the child, this graphic campaign shows how criminal groups treat children and teenagers in Mexico, enlist them and shape them to become hitmen or criminals.

Girls, boys, and teenagers should have the right to a safe environment at home, in school, and within their communities. Unfortunately, in Mexico, this right is often violated, especially among those living in poverty. Organised crime recruits thousands of them.

"Inspired by the everyday situations of traditional families, such as playing soccer, learning to drive or watching television, we wanted to show how everyday organised crime families that recruit and exploit children have become," said Alexis Ospina, chief creative officer of Grey Mexico.

Studies by the National Citizen Observatory and Redim in 2020 estimated that between 100,000 to 200,000 children and teenagers are affected. These youths find themselves ensnared in criminal networks, losing their innocence and being forced into illicit activities that threaten their future.

Criminal groups have a recruitment strategy that involves stepping into the role of the family, providing what many humble families cannot: time, money, attention, and a fast track into the criminal world.

Through three powerful images, "Families" reveals how criminal groups fill the void left by absent traditional families. Whether it's playing soccer, watching a movie, or learning to drive, everyday activities become tools for recruitment and control by criminals. Each image in this campaign captures the "family" treatment that criminal groups provide to young people, moulding them into hitmen or criminals.

However, this campaign isn't just about exposing reality; it's about inspiring change. It urges us to take action, to break teenagers free from this cycle of violence, and to offer them a path to a safer, more promising future. Through Save The Children, we can help create safe spaces where they can grow without the influence of crime and reach their full potential.