Human Trafficking in [Chile] [other countries]Street Children in [Chile Child Prostitution in [Chile] [other countries] |
Prevalence, Abuse & Exploitation of Street Children The Republic of
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accompanying text have been culled from the web to illuminate the situation
in Quick Search for Missing Children
- Select Gender, Country ( UNICEF - The Big Picture U.S. Dept
of Labor Bureau of International Labor Affairs INCIDENCE
AND NATURE OF CHILD LABOR - The National Statistics Institute of Chile estimated that 3.3
percent of children ages 5 to 14 years were working in the country in
2003. The survey found that the percentage
of working boys is higher than that of girls, and that the rate of child work
is higher in rural than in urban areas. The most common activity for
children who work is selling goods on the street and performing odd jobs. Bur of Democracy,
Human Rights & Labor - Country
Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005 TRAFFICKING
IN PERSONS – SENAME, the ministries of government and health, and other
government agencies formed the Protect Network, which conducted general
public awareness and education campaigns to prevent sexual violence and
abuse, including the commercial sexual exploitation of minors. Nearly 80
percent of SENAME's budget supported NGO programs,
particularly those that worked with street children. SECTION 6
WORKER RIGHTS – [d]
In August SENAME released a report indicating that,
as of September 2004, there were 1,123 cases of children and adolescents
involved in the worst forms of child labor. Of this number, approximately 68
percent were boys; 75 percent were 15 years or older; and 66 percent did not
attend school. Thirty-seven percent of the individuals were involved in
hazardous activities such as mining; 24 percent in commercial sexual
exploitation; 21 percent in dangerous jobs such as working with chemicals or
toxins; and 14 percent in illegal activities. Concluding
Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) - 2002 [49] The Committee, while noting
that the State party has ratified ILO Conventions No. 138 concerning Minimum
Age for Admission to Employment and No. 182 concerning the Prohibition and
Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour and increased the minimum age for admission to
work to 15, expresses its deep concern at the large number of children,
including those under 15, who are exploited economically, especially in the
farming sector, and the large number who have to leave school because they
cannot conciliate work and school. HIDDEN TRAGEDIES - Francisco is one of the hidden
tragedies. His mother died giving birth, and his father was shot shortly
after that. He grew up in orphanages, and at the age of 7, he escaped to an
even rougher life on the streets. For half his life, he worked in the sex
trade. It was the only way to feed himself, he
says. "I saw that other kids were
doing it, but all of them did it out of need," says Francisco. He is 15
now and has been off the streets for three months. Francisco also had it rough. He
was beaten by pimps and clients. He now lives in a shelter called Margin,
which tries to get children off the street by helping them find alternative
forms of work. Margin is made up of former sex-trade workers like Maria, who
search the streets for others and offer them alternative ways to make money.
That was the selling point for Francisco.
"This foundation made me change," he says, a twinkle in his
eye. "I left prostitution and now I'm working, as a traveling salesman -
and legally." He peddles key chains on buses and is learning to make
crafts. Your Gifts Are Helping The Street Children Of Concepcion To Get Jobs The Salesian Technical School has
implemented an innovative program that provides basic training in electric,
general and automobile mechanics. Using these skills to find work is the only
way a street child can survive without begging and stealing. Another Misconception About Street
Children Is That They Are Highly Individualistic1 These groups are highly organized.
They usually have a recognized leader, whose position is rarely based on
harassment, while other members treat each other as equals. Indeed, it is as
if they create for themselves new families. For example, Vittachi
(1989) described a group of children in I Connect
Online Street Children Project The Street Children Telecentre project in The
Protection Project - Human Rights Reports of The Americas - Chile [DOC] FORMS OF TRAFFICKING - A recent study estimates that
4,000 children work in the commercial sex industry in Chile; other studies
indicate that number could be as high as 15,000. Some 65,000 online networks
of pedophiles across the country have been identified. A 2003 scandal involved a prominent Chilean
businessman who was alleged to have recruited street children for a prostitution ring. Two senators have been
under investigation, and several police officers and prominent businessmen
have been arrested since the scandal unfolded, and the affair has reportedly
“opened the country’s eyes to the problem of street children and child
prostitution.” Testimonials from Ray's Chilean friends1 Ray Gatchalian spent the last week of his life "in Chile doing what he
loved: engaging people, learning, sharing of himself and his family,
making connections that built bridges across countries and cultures, showing
his photos and videos, visiting with and raising awareness about poor and
abandoned children and about those who devote their lives to helping these
children. 1. The linked article has been
taken down, moved or restricted All material used herein
reproduced under the fair use exception of 17 USC §
107 for noncommercial, nonprofit, and educational use |
Human Trafficking in [Chile] [other countries]Street Children in [Chile Child Prostitution in [Chile] [other countries]