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ACCORDING to the United Nations, around 168 million children remain trapped in child labor around the world and many of them live in areas affected by conflict and disaster. These children are exposed to multiple forms of abuses such as sexual exploitation and sex trafficking, forced labor and internal displacement, among others. Disasters and armed conflicts make them even more vulnerable to abuses as poor women and children are preyed upon by human trafficking syndicates.
Here in Western Visayas, just last month 13 minors were rescued from a fake cigarette factory in Bacolod City. They were working as cigarette packers. The police hauled their recruiters to court.
Ending child labor is a must. Children have the right to a life free from violence, exploitation and abuse. But how? The problem requires a multi-disciplinary protection system, which involves stricter implementation of anti-trafficking and anti-child labor laws, providing livelihood opportunities to parents so they can send their children to school, coordinated response among different concerned agencies and strengthened international cooperation.
We have legal measures already in place. The Anti-Child Labor Law protects children from being engaged into work outside the protection of their parents or guardian, and that which might endanger their life, safety and development. The Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act protects children from being trafficked through its strengthened provisions which also covers attempted trafficking and accessory or accomplice liability. Under the Domestic Workers Act, it is unlawful to employ children below 15 years of age as domestic worker, while those who are 15 years old but below 18 years of age are considered as working children and are protected under the Anti-Child Labor Act.
Meanwhile, since children in disaster and conflict areas become more vulnerable to trafficking, proactive measures to prevent disasters should be intensified. There is now a law, the Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act, which mandates government to establish and implement a strategic program of action to provide children affected by disasters, calamities and other emergency situations with assistance necessary for their immediate recovery and to protect them against all forms of abuse and exploitation.
We must strictly implement our laws to end child labor and protect our children from circumstances that adversely affect their survival and normal development.
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