LEARNING FROM THE CARRIBEAN AND CENTRAL AMERICA PROGRAMME

Child Labour and Poverty Reduction in &

October 2007

Since our arrival in Central Amer- ica in 1974, Save the Children UK has contributed to the construction of a rights based framework, which has led to dramatic changes in the lives of children and young people. This case study highlights our work in the Caribbean and Central America over the last five years and the changes we have inspired, and is a record of the lessons we have learned, the challenges we have identified and the recom- mendations we have for all those involved in development work and the defence of human rights, espe- cially the rights of children.

Since the closure of our programme in the Caribbean and Central A young girl (above) draws the house where she America (CARICA) in March 2007, works as a domestic servant (right). The drawing the legacy of our work for children (right) says “This is the house where I work”. continues through the ongoing The programme implemented a set of pro- work of our dedicated partners tection measures to improve the working throughout the region.This par- conditions of child labourers and facilitated ticular study focuses on the eradi- access to alternative activities, such as cation of the worst forms of child school. We ensured participating children’s labour in Honduras and Guatemala. access to education, health services, and vocational training, as well as providing The programme recreational opportunities. We encouraged Convention 182, ratified by Honduras in our partners to create replicable models 2001, on the worst forms of child labour. The programme on the eradication of the and develop and document good practices. The convention provided an interna- worst forms of Child Labour and Poverty We involved the children in all aspects of tional framework from which to address Reduction in Honduras and Guatemala the programme, including our survey of the exploitation of thousands of children consisted of a set of social and politi- public policy and its compliance with ILO and adolescents in the target countries cal interventions aimed at improving the Convention 182. Building on that review, of Guatemala and Honduras. lives of children who work in domestic children took an active role in developing service, agriculture, and the production of and advocating implementation of child- fireworks. In addition to providing needed friendly policies, including social auditing of Contents services and social reinsertion to work- their country’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. The programme 1 ing children, the programme conducted advocacy campaigns to promote public Why we did it 1 safeguards to protect children from Why we did it What we did 2 exploitation. It fomented sustainable The programme emerged in 1995 in re- advances both at the level of individual Our Partners 2 sponse to the growing problem of child children’s lives and in the institutions of labour. International concern over the Results 2 the countries where we worked. issue had taken shape in the form of ILO What we learned 3 LEARNING FROM THE CARIBBEAN AND CENTRAL AMERICA PROGRAMME Page 2 Child Labour and Poverty Reduction in Honduras & Guatemala

In Central America, families turn to child Support networks and mented the project “Defence and Promotion labour to survive. Hampered by high participation of Children’s Rights” in the municipalities levels of unemployment and under-em- of Naranjito, in Santa Bárbara, and Nueva The programme promoted the organisa- ployment among adults and an elevated Arcadia and Veracruz, in Copán. The project tion of support networks for child and and accelerating rate of households run advocated for the rights of children em- adolescent domestic servants in Guatema- by single mothers, desperate parents ployed in the production of fireworks. la and Honduras. It gave children a voice in push their children into the workforce. public policy formation and an active role There are an estimated 1 million working Foro Social de la Deuda Externa y De- in advocacy efforts. Within the programme, children between the ages of 10 and 14 in sarrollo de Honduras (FOSDEH, or Social children made a significant contribution to Honduras and Guatemala. Forum on Foreign Debt and Develop- project design and implementation. ment in Honduras) executed the project Initial studies identified deep-sea diving, “Mechanism for Participatory Review of agriculture, domestic labour and fireworks Our partners the Poverty Reduction Strategy from a production as some of the most danger- Child Rights Perspective” in the Sula Valley ous economic activities exploiting children, In Guatemala of northern Honduras. The project focused prompting us to focus our programmatic on involving children in the review. activities on those areas from 2002 to 2006. Childhope Foundation implemented the project “Child and Adolescent Labour in El The Labour and Social Security Ministry Quiché, Eradication of the Worst Forms of of Honduras implemented the project What we did Child Labour and Reduction of Poverty.” “Strengthening the Regional Technical Sub- The project influenced the formulation, commissions for the Gradual and Progressive The programme implemented campaigns to implementation and review of policies Eradication of Child Labour,” bolstering the raise awareness about the dangers of these and social programmes aimed at eradicat- technical capacity of regional Labour offices forms of child labour. It introduced holistic ing the worst forms of child labour in 7 in nine departments of Honduras. Officials protection measures, aimed not only at municipalities of El Quiché. were educated on the details of child labour improving the child’s working conditions but legislation in compliance with the National also his or her living conditions, primarily Asociación Conrado de la Cruz executed Action Plan for the Eradication of Child through access to educational opportunities. the project “Support of Indigenous Girls Labour and with ILO Convention 182. Working as Domestic Servants”. The Municipal investment in children project implemented protection measures Save the Children Honduras was enlisted for Mayan girls working in other peoples We established political forums for the ad- to execute the project “Dissemination and homes and succeeded in moving some of vocacy of children’s rights within 7 municipal Defence of the Rights of Child and Adoles- the young women out of domestic service governments in El Quiché, Guatemala. As a cent Workers in the Towns and Barrios of and into school or vocational training. It result, the municipalities formed Commis- the Municipality of San Lorenzo, Department operated in Santiago Sacatepéquez, Santa sions for the Protection of Child Labourers of Valle.” The project helped working children María Cauqué, Santa Isabel II, Villanueva and (COPRONATS). We worked with communi- organise a public campaign promoting com- the Parque Central in Guatemala City. ties and their participating children in pushing pliance with children’s rights in the target for public investment in child services and on communities, where children are employed the eradication of child labour. In Honduras in salt extraction, shell fish collection and -based Sociedad Amigos de fishing. Children also launched an educational Prevention los Niños (Friends of Children Society) campaign via local public access media. implemented the project “Support of Child The programme developed and implemented Domestic Servants Reyes Irene Valen- a risk reduction strategy for young Mayan zuela” in the Honduran capital with the Results women and girls working as domestic servants. goal of improving working conditions and Direct benefits to children promoting alternative activities. The project Research provided girl workers with access to quali- More than 60 girls in Guatemala and 85 Our research in Central America included ty education and health services, vocational in Honduras withdrew from the domestic an assessment of the conditions and extent training, recreation, and legal support. service labour force in favour of schooling of child labour and analysis of public budg- or vocational opportunities. In Honduras, etary assignations for children’s services Consultoría para el Desarrollo Integral de 400 teenage domestic workers and 800 child (primarily in Guatemala and Honduras) Honduras (CDIH, or Consultancy for the agricultural labourers were provided access Integral Development of Honduras) imple- to primary school or alternative education. LEARNING FROM THE CARIBBEAN AND CENTRAL AMERICA PROGRAMME Page 3 Child Labour and Poverty Reduction in Honduras & Guatemala

Advocacy in public policy as drama, guitar, marimba, and traditional dance. In Honduras, 1,160 child work- In cooperation with Childhope, we influ- ers participated in non-formal alternative enced the Guatemalan government’s plans education programmes. for addressing child labour by providing research that helped them identify the most exploitative and dangerous forms of child la- What we learned bour in the country. At the municipal level, the programme influenced the development Protecting Child Workers plans of 7 small and remote Guatemalan cit- A policy for eradication of the worst ies with a high incidence of child labour. forms of child labour should condemn With Honduran partner FOSDEH, we all forms of harmful work. An ambiguous conducted workshops to raise awareness stance will lead to incoherent policy and of child labour in 4 cities and involved 1,236 the perpetuation of the ignored forms of children in a participatory audit of the exploitation. Care must be taken when country’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, from trying to improve the conditions of risk of a children’s rights perspective. Municipal working children that the work is not seen development plans in 5 Honduran cities as acceptance or approval of child labour. were changed to include measures aimed at The ultimate goal is to get the children out the eradication of child labour. of risky employment and into school. Young girl making fireworks in her family home, in direct contact with the gunpowder and Child protection policies should be tai- without adequate protection from health risks Networking lored to the age of the working children scribed child labour since the mid-20th Save the Children UK joined with Save the they aim to protect. The risks and needs century with no real effect. While adequate Children Norway and the ILO to provide of pre-teens in the workforce are differ- legislation is necessary, it does not in itself technical support for the strengthening of ent from those of older working children. guarantee an end to the targeted practices. the Guatemalan Labour Ministry’s regional Younger children are more susceptible to The abolition of dangerous forms of child office in Santa Cruz de El Quiché. suffering permanent physical damage be- labour should be seen as a historical proc- cause they are being exposed to danger at ess that chips away at the causes of child Participation an important stage of their development. labour. It requires a multifaceted approach Older kids face greater risks of a social, In Guatemala child domestic workers involving the economic, social, cultural, sexual and moral nature owing to normal were organised, educated about their political and educational arenas, as well as tension with their parents, violent cultural rights, and trained to replicate that learning the participation of a wide range of actors. influences, peer pressure and the vulner- with other children involved in domestic The effort must involve employers, rela- abilities inherent in a life on the streets. service. Hundreds of those girls, as well as tives of working children, state officials, the child agricultural workers, participated in children themselves and, in many cases, the The programme’s experience in Guatemala work committees and recreational activi- organisations that work with them. highlighted the differences between working ties in three municipalities. In San Lorenzo, with rural indigenous communities and in Honduras, the children have participated Every strategy to combat child labour poor urban barrios. In spite of their extreme in public demonstrations, recreational should contemplate providing alternative poverty, indigenous communities maintained activities, and the creation of solidarity sources of income. While poverty reduction more cultural and familial cohesiveness, pro- networks. In western Honduras, children should be a focus of the work with national viding their working children with a level of formed networks and participated in governments and counterparts, it is also community support and protection not seen sports and artistic and educational activi- important to develop alternatives for gener- in poor urban areas. Any attempt to work ties sponsored by the programme. ating income for the community and family, with Mayan communities should embrace or alternatives that relieve the conditions and work with local culture and avoid the Advances against discrimination of economic hardship that force parents to imposition of preconceived Western notions send their children into the workforce. It Working children are often excluded from that may conflict with that culture. is not enough to simply chastise those par- recreational activities, so the programme ents; they need alternatives. Simply removing The “elimination” or “eradication” of the supported the participation of hundreds of a child from the labour force may prompt worst forms of child labour is a long range indigenous children in El Quiché, Guatema- exposure to even greater risks, such as goal that cannot be readily imposed on a la in academic and cultural activities such involvement in street crime or drug abuse. society. Honduran legislation has pro- LEARNING FROM THE CARIBBEAN AND CENTRAL AMERICA PROGRAMME Page 4 Child Labour and Poverty Reduction in Honduras & Guatemala

Direct action to meet the needs of working conventions into the previous govern- Participation and Child children should be balanced with efforts ment’s platform for poverty reduction. Labourers to educate the children’s parents. Prevail- But good intentions are not enough. In As with all Save the Children programming, ing culture in the target countries has not Honduras, for example, public officials child participation in the different phases traditionally put much weight on children’s were readily available to voice support for of the projects is essential. Sustainability rights. Economic alternatives must therefore the country’s National Action Plan on child can best be achieved by ensuring that the be accompanied by efforts to sensitize the labour, but there has been little progress target group feels that its participation is parents to their children’s rights. with regard to official funding of the plan. valued and respected. The process empow- ers children to raise their voices on issues Political Advocacy The reduction of the worst forms of child labour requires action on many fronts: pov- that affect them. While child labour has multiple causes, erty reduction; access to appropriate and poverty is the most determinant factor. Children should help define the “worst accessible education and health services; No policy of eradication of the worst forms” of child labour in the initial stages technical and professional training for better forms of child labour can ignore the need of the programme. For any attempt to job opportunities; recreational opportuni- for poverty reduction among the children curb the exploitation of children in danger- ties; legal protection; effective workplace and their families; and no plan can be ous jobs to progress, the target children inspection; awareness-raising among chil- successful on the national level if its objec- must come to see their situation as unac- dren, adolescents, parents, communities and tives are undermined by state policies or ceptable. They have to apply the definition employers; and more. Each one of these is macro-economic tendencies that deepen to their own daily activities, and come to important, so programming needs to engage poverty, and therefore tend to perpetuate accept that there are better ways to meet a broad range of interested parties. The the exploitation of children. Even localised their financial needs. This is no easy feat. media, donor institutions, local and national initiatives to address child labour have to What may be seen as a denigrating job by governments, trade unions, employers, and take into account the macroeconomic a group of researchers can to a poor child NGOs must be involved. context and its impact on the daily lives of feel like a dignified way to contribute to participating children and families. In Honduras, the complete gamut of the family income. Becoming a breadwin- interested parties participated in Regional ner engenders a certain amount of respect, Developing an accurate understanding of Technical Sub-Councils, prompting broad even for the youngest child labourers. the reality of child exploitation requires ownership over the process. Parents were Involving the children in the definition of social research that exposes its mecha- sensitized to the legal rights of children and risky employment might easily turn up nisms and their consequences for working acknowledged becoming more aware of the hidden dangers in a seemingly innocuous children. It is necessary to have a good existence of unacceptable working condi- job. A participatory mechanism should understanding of the basic human rights tions for children. Reporters and church be established for employing the children situation, causes, ages and rate of school representatives got involved with the cam- maintaining an up to date picture of the desertion, existing organisational assets, paign, taking its message to a wider audience. child labour situation. etc. These studies should be of the high- est quality to ensure their usefulness in Poverty Reduction Strategies require When done right, child participation implies political advocacy directed at national and special mention. In theory they have the much added value for the children who international organisations that make deci- potential to alleviate the extreme poverty take part. For many, it can be the first time sions and investments that affect the lives that gives rise to the most dangerous their voice seems to count and serves as a of child labourers. forms of child labour. Providing adults with tremendous boost to their self-esteem. The dignified employment opportunities can process can awaken and develop leadership The programme found it useful to become liberate their children from the workforce qualities and abilities that children will em- involved with existing national processes and open the door to education. Making ploy for the rest of their lives. Genuine and seeking adjustments to macro-economic sure the Poverty Reduction policies actu- effective participation, guided by adequate policy with a potential for reducing the ally serve those ends requires the backing methodologies, should awaken in children incidence of child labour in the long term. of an active civil society that will champion an awareness of their position as social Bringing high quality technical analysis to the cause of job creation and pressure the actors with rights. That realisation converts the table can facilitate entry into policy government to do the same. them into catalysts for positive change. circles and thus increase opportunities to The children become empowered to act influence key decision makers. By working The Honduran case unfortunately illustrates on their own behalf and on behalf of their closely with economists from the technical how easily poverty reduction funds can community. The community, on the other unit of the Honduran Presidency, we were be diverted in the absence of an effective hand, is enriched by its children’s input. able to insert child rights and international response and monitoring from civil society. LEARNING FROM THE CARIBBEAN AND CENTRAL AMERICA PROGRAMME Page 5 Child Labour and Poverty Reduction in Honduras & Guatemala

Participation does come at a cost. Time a priori valuing of tradition and culture, One of the most important roles of the fa- spent participating in the programme without a critical analysis of its strengths cilitating organisation is capacity building with means less time to earn money or study. and weaknesses, may perpetuate models of local partners involved in the eradication of The facilitating organisation can anticipate exclusion and discrimination. child labour. Support to these entities should these losses and perhaps provide tempo- include the development of planning, review, rary alternative compensation. Involving children in communications and monitoring and evaluation skills. other promotional activities provides them Parents and community leaders should be with an opportunity for growth. It also can Interaction between international organi- encouraged to participate along with the be a powerful publicity tool. Exchanges sations and community level NGOs can children. These natural role models can be among the children can be enriching and result in the development of practices and the best facilitators of the process if they elevate their self-esteem. methodologies with potential for replica- are trained to do so. If they are not on tion on a national level. In Honduras, for board with the process, they can become For a coordinating organisation to function example, Save the Children UK used the the biggest obstacle to progress. Their properly, the participating organisations it co- knowledge acquired through its local active participation not only facilitates ordinates must take on the process as their activities and research to enrich the coun- the involvement of children, but can also own and build it according to their priorities, try’s National Action Plan. generate positive models of adulthood for in a democratic and participatory manner. the community’s young people. Save the Children and its partners succeeded Working with local in building relationships of trust with child The participatory planning and conscious- organisations labourers, leading to their active participa- ness-raising that occurs at the beginning tion in the eradication process. Policy makers Non-governmental organisations can play an of the process can generate expectations should as a matter of course listen to the important role in influencing national policies, among the population that are easily frus- ideas of children and promote their leader- especially in relation to Poverty Reduction trated. The facilitating organisation must be ship in developing policies that affect children. Strategies and efforts to ensure some of very clear about its proposal and expected those resources are invested in children. results and engage in constant monitoring of the target population’s expectations. The State has a strategic role to play. It is the principal guarantor of the rights of chil- Methodology dren and the best placed entity to generate Respect for local culture, especially when the conditions to alleviate child labour, such dealing with indigenous peoples, can at as poverty reduction. Advocacy at the State times be problematic. For example, pro- level should promote the formulation of moting authentic gender equality implies progressive public policies and the insti- introducing significant change in terms of tutionalisation of procedures, models and traditional roles for girls and boys. The methodologies that have proven successful.

Other learning case studies from the Caribbean and Central America • Child labour and poverty reduction in Honduras & Guatemala

• Juvenile justice in Honduras, , & Guatemala

• Child participation in

• HIV and AIDS in Jamaica

• Advocacy in public policy in Honduras

• Emergency preparedness in the Caribbean and Central America

Feedback: Learning case studies: If you have any comments regarding any of the issues highlighted in this This case study is one of a wider series focusing on learning from expe- case study or are interested in acquiring further information on “Child rience in key areas of our programmes work. labour and poverty reduction in Honduras & Guatemala” or any of If you have ideas for topics we should examine in other learning other our work in the Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East case studies or any other comments please contact Gema Vicente at and North Africa, and South East Europe region, please contact the [email protected] LACMESEE Regional Office [email protected]