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Re: I feel such a burden
Prevalence and Sectoral Distribution of the Worst Forms of Child Labor
Children in Brazil are engaged in the worst forms of child labor, including in hazardous activities in agriculture and street work.(3, 4) Some children are engaged in the production of cashews, cotton, manioc, pineapple, rice, sisal, and tobacco.(5-20) Although the extent of the problem is unknown, there are reports that children are also found working in the production of apples, babassu (palm used to produce oil), beans, citrus, coffee, cocoa, mate tea, sugarcane, tomatoes, and strawberries.(5, 10-14, 20-33) These children work long hours, use dangerous tools, and are exposed to the elements, pesticides, and physical injuries.(21, 22, 34, 35) Children also work in cattle ranching and animal slaughter, including for beef production. Children who work in animal slaughterhouses are exposed to unsanitary conditions and use sharp knives.(7, 36, 37)
Some children produce charcoal, ceramics, and bricks. Although evidence is limited, there are reports that children are also found mining gemstones and breaking rocks into gravel. These children may carry heavy loads, risk physical injuries, and are exposed to the elements.(35, 38-42) Reportedly, children work long hours in mollusk harvesting; they collect mollusks before sunrise, and clean and peel mollusks during the day. These children may be exposed to physical injuries such as cuts and scrapes.(16)
A 2010 study found more than 23,000 street children, predominantly males, working in 75 cities in Brazil. They perform hazardous work in construction, automobile washing and repair, and garbage scavenging; they also work in the production of garments and footwear. Although information is limited, there are reports that they are also found working in the production of leather.(14, 35, 43, 44) The study found that these children work long hours and face a variety of safety and health risks, including exposure to the elements and toxic substances, and are at risk for physical injuries.(35, 43) According to the Ministry of Health children who work in the footwear sector in the State of São Paulo suffer more occupational injuries than do children working in other sectors.(45)
Reportedly, children are engaged in artistic and sporting activities such as modeling, choreography, and soccer, in violation of child labor laws. These activities may expose them to long hours, the elements, and injuries.(46-48) Some children who perform in artistic events may work up to 8 hours without breaks, while children under the age of 14 who have been recruited by professional teams may live apart from their families and not attend school.(46-48) In 2012, a 14-year-old boy died while in tryouts for a professional soccer team.(47)
Many children in Brazil work as domestic servants. According to a 2013 report, more than 258,000 children, ages 10 to 17, work in domestic service in third-party homes.(49, 50) Child domestic workers may be required to work long hours, performing strenuous tasks without sufficient food or shelter. These children may be isolated in private homes and are susceptible to physical and sexual abuse.(51, 52) Children and adolescents are also engaged in prostitution and sex tourism, including along highways, at truck stops and bus stations, and in brothels near mining settlements in the Amazon region.(53-56) Children are reportedly engaged in pornography. Children are trafficked internally and internationally for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor.(19, 57) In the cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, children are sometimes recruited into criminal gangs to work in the drug trade.(58, 59) In March 2013, seven Paraguayan adolescents ages 15 to 17 were found working under forced labor conditions in the production of manioc.(60)
A 2009 UNICEF study reported that rural areas in the Northeast face challenges in providing access to education. School infrastructure is precarious; some schools do not have running water, electricity, or toilets.(61) Transportation is not always available because of aging buses, long distances, and bad road conditions. Some children do not have birth certificates, which hinders their access to education.(61) A 2010 World Bank study found that only approximately 60.0 percent of youth enrolled in secondary education complete their schooling.(62)
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