Stop Exploiting the Children in Brazil
As almost every part in the world celebrates and enjoys the quadrennial FIFA World Cup, there is something very alarming and worrying that needs our immediate attention, and that is the problem of child labor. The World Cup attracts soccer fans from every corner of the world and the Brazil government does everything it can to make it a success. The swarm of overseas visitors provides a positive impact on business opportunities. However, it also brings a negative impact on opportunity for exploitation on child labor. So behind all the happiness and excitement of the World Cup, anyone has the power to stop the problem of child labor.
In Brazil, the legal working age is sixteen, but sadly, as at June 2014, there are three millions boys and girls who are victims of child labor. Children should not work obviously because they are not capable of protecting themselves from risk of safety, health and harassment. Child labor exists in various sectors. To name a few, some work in plantations growing crops like sugar canes, oranges and coffee beans and some work in domestic places. Even heart-brokenly there are many that are forced to work as prostitutes. However, whatever kind of child labor they are, there are some commonalities among them. Child labor always work far from their families and they are often controlled by the “employers”. They always have to work with dangerous equipment. They are often deprived of basic rights, social services, reasonable living and working conditions. In addition, they have no protection against sexual harassment, mental and physical abuse. So in general, child labor are frequently overworked, underpaid and unprotected.
An example of a victim of child labor who has been coerced into being a prostitute is Ana Gabriela. Ana, fifteen years old, was having trouble with her family and she often argued with her parents. A couple named Selmo and Jennifer made use of the opportunity to befriend Ana. They lied to her about an opportunity to work in a snack bar near a beach. Thinking that running away from home was a solution, Ana followed the couple to Rio. Upon their arrival, Ana and two seventeen years old girls were forced to become prostitutes selling their body to earn money for the couple. These girls had no choice but to make a hundred and eighty-six pounds per night or they would be beaten up. When they were not working, they were locked up and starved. Luckily, after twenty-four days, Ana escaped and returned home. However, when Ana and her mother reported the case to the police, they simply did not seem to care.
Having read a case that is so frightening, it is very important to look into the causes of child labor. The first and most important cause is extreme poverty. There are many adults who do not earn sufficient income to support the families. To soothe the financial burden, their children are forced to work as child labor. The second cause is cultural habits. Many parents grow up as child labor and naturally they do not see this as a problem. But in fact, it is a problem that is trapped in a generation cycle. To make things worse, this problem will continue to exist if children cannot go to school and the illiteracy problem is not solved. The third, and much related to the second, cause is the condition of Brazilian public schools. Primary schools are generally underequipped and in very bad condition because of the lack of funding. Locations of these schools are far way but poor families living in favelas really could not afford the bus tickets. Besides transportation, they have no spare money for school uniforms and books.
Child labor problem in Brazil is in a very tense situation. Whatever kind of work children take, they are just being exploited and receive very minimal wages. In September 2000, leaders of the world set up the United Nations Millennium Goals, known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). One of these MDGs is “Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger”. Looking at Brazil’s child labor problem, it is by no means (and obviously not a correct one) a solution to the poverty problem. With so limited money earned by children, there is no way that these families can get out of the poverty cycle. Another MDG that is closely related to the one mentioned above is “Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases”. Since child labor working as prostitute (probably unprotected) is so common in Brazil, there is a great chance that these children will have sexual diseases.
Currently, organizations like UNICEF are working towards the goal of ending child labor in Brazil. An example is the launching of “Projeta Brasil” app. People can immediately report cases of abuse and child labor problems using this app. However, the fundamental and critical solution to child labor problem is the reduction in poverty. Obviously the Brazil government cannot totally rely on others to solve its internal problems. On one hand, law enforcement and child labor inspections might help to alleviate the problem. On the other hand, improved economic and financial conditions of poor families are of the utmost importance. Here, taking this opportunity, I would like to ask for your support. By January 2015, I hope to collect at least ten thousand signatures. You do not have to donate any money. All I am asking, whatever race you are and whichever country you live, is that you help by signing this online petition. The more signatures we gather, the more pressure we could put on the Brazil government. So don’t delay, please sign now.
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