Child Labor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

By Grace, Nick, Lucy, Connor

The Democratic of the Congo

Child Labor Stats

• In 2000 there was 1,922,000 economically active children in the Democratic republic of the Congo between the ages of 10-14

• This makes up 28.6% of this age group

Children Working

Children working in minesIn the DRC, in the eastern province of Katanga, about 800 children dig for copper and cobalt.

They are so poor that some of them can’t even afford to buy dinner.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/5071172.stm

Child Labor Stats

• Mine work is one of the leading causes of child labor

• Many children forced to extract ore from Coltan mud mines

• Estimates place percentage of school children in these mines to be 30%

• Working in these mines exposes children to radioactive and toxic substances

Children work in quarries

Many children work in quarries and the gravel business due to being unable to pay for school.

In quarries like the ones pictured here, families with children as young as 2 often work 12 hours a day

http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/drcongo_49979.html

Forced by own family

• Families having no choice – Some even force their daughters into prostitution

• Not enough money• Often only way to earn a teensy bit of money was

to make children work– Forced children to beg, fish, hunt, and be prostitutes

• Work in mining and agriculture• Children sent to relatives often became abused

and forced into labor

What is Being Done

• Not much can be done by the Democratic Republic of the Congo's government to stop child slavery for two main reasons – The governments budget on programs that help

victims is only $67 million– The government doesn’t have enough clerks,

magistrates, and lawyers to prosecute the traffickers

Economy

• Economic problems in the democratic republic of the congo lead to child labor

• The war in 1998 in the Congo destroyed all gains made by the government to curb inflation and help the economy recover

• Economic problems caused by former dictator Mobutu Sese Seko

Economic Causes

• Mobutu stole billions of dollars from the economy• One of the longest lasting impacts Mobutu had on

the economy was when he forced private companies to be turned over to the government

• Because of inexperience and mismanagement this companies become bankrupt causing economic problems

• The Economy never recovered from the failures of these companies

The government isn’t helping

• The government has been unhelpful in persecution of traffickers– No resources and information– Most trafficking is internal and operates out of the

government’s control– Military and armed groups cause most of human

trafficking in the country• Therefore, the corrupt government isn’t

contributing to the solution

Law Passed to Help Stop Child Slavery

• The Child Protection Code – Penalty• 10-20 years imprisonment

– What the law covers• Sexual slavery, child trafficking, child

commercial sexual exploitation, and the enlisting children into the army

Prevention

• The Nation Ministry of Labor has employed 160 inspectors, which inspect worksites of child labor– However the Ministry hasn’t been apart of any

forced labor investigation – Ministry cant do their job for two main reasons • Lack means of transportation • Lack of Resources

Other Organizations Working Against Forced Child Labor

• The Ministry of Defense issued a “zero tolerance” policy regarding child solders– The Government in the DROC (Democratic

Republic of the Congo) didn’t acknowledge the plans by the UN

• The Provincial Ministries of Education along with two international NGO’s to implement different projects– They were able to take 13,000 children who were

working in mines and put them in an education system

Action Plan

• Free education offered to children• Give domestic farming animals to help families recover • Children learn skills to earn incomes as adults• Work with NGOs to provide resources• Address the corruption of government by getting onto

the security council of the U.N. • Educate to prevent overpopulation– Smaller families will need less money and will not need to

resort to dangerous jobs

Education

• Children are not in school due to costs– They work in forced labor instead

• Primary school in the country should be free and universal– Helps victims recover from human trafficking– Encourages the poor to send their children to

school– Opens new opportunities for better jobs and

better life

What education looks like

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DRC_classroom.jpg

Poverty

• According to a 2006 estimation by the CIA, 71% of the population is below poverty level– Poverty causes child slavery because it makes

them more vulnerable– If we can end poverty in the Democratic Republic

of the Congo, we can also end human trafficking• Through NGOs, we can provide necessary resources for

ending poverty.

Prosecution

• Some progress in the government has been made to stop child traffickers – The laws the government passed weren't able to

cover all of the country where drug trafficking is most prevalent

– The government should be more efficient in their prosecution

Non-Governmental Organizations Working in DRC

• UNICEF and Group One partnership– Helping families to get children in school

• School fees plus financial support since they lose possible wages in school

• Need skills to get out of economic conditions– Providing safe jobs for income

• Providing professional training and basic equipment• Keeping animals like pigs• With income, children can attend school and break cycle

– Working with World Bank• Reducing price of school

Other NGO’s

• International Labor Organization (ILO)– Works especially for re-integration of freed

children and establishing safe jobs for them

http://02varvara.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/01c-child-labour-12-10.jpg?w=1000&h=680

Muhindo, rescued from forced child labor by ILO and now earning his living fishing with a co-op founded by the program.

http://www.ilo.org/dyn/media/mediasearch.fiche?p_id=9212&p_lang=en

Protection

• Both long and short term protection from dangerous jobs and forced labor involves getting children to go to school– Paying school fees (school supplies) and lowering price– Providing source of income to family so children do not

need to work– Children will learn skills at school that can provide an

income for them as adults• Providing family income– Not money but skills and basic equipment to start– Animals provide continuous food and money

Other Forms of Protection

• Safe schools• Equal opportunities for boys and girls• Compulsory education• Economic entrapment is the largest cause in the DRC,

so some of the best forms of protection involve sustaining a family income so the children need not work.

• Protection of worker’s rights– Several NGO’s advocating this, but it is difficult due to

corrupt government

Videos to Watch on Child Labor

• Child labour in DR Congo http://www.unicef.org/videoaudio/ramfiles/8343h_drcchildlabour.ram

• http://vimeo.com/5100147

Works Cited• "UNHCR | Refworld | 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report - Congo, Democratic Republic of the."

UNHCR Welcome. United States Department of State, 27 June 2011. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. <http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,USDOS,,COD,,4e12ee8837,0.html>.

• "Worst Forms of Child Labour - Congo, Dem. Rep.: Global March Against Child Labour." Global March Against Child Labour: From Exploitation to Education. Global March Against Child Labour. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. <http://www.globalmarch.org/worstformsreport/world/congo-dem-rep.html>.

• "Stats & Facts on Child Labour in Mines and Quarries." Global March Against Child Labour: From Exploitation to Education. Global March Against Child Labour. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. <http://www.globalmarch.org/events/facts-wdacl.php3>.

• "CIA - The World Factbook." Welcome to the CIA Web Site — Central Intelligence Agency. 18 Oct. 2011. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cg.html>.

• Bloemen, Shantha. "UNICEF - Congo, Democratic Republic of the - Pounding Rock and Crushing Potential: Child Labour in DR Congo." UNICEF - UNICEF Home. 25 Aug. 2009. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. <http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/drcongo_49979.html>.

• "Congo, Democratic Republic of the." U.S. Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, 6 Mar. 2007. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. <http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2006/78728.htm>.