Project Title |
Program to Prevent and Progressively Eliminate Child Labor in Small-Scale Traditional Gold Mining in South America, Phases 1 & 2 (closed) |
ILAB Program |
Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking |
Region/Country |
THE AMERICAS/Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru |
Project Duration |
May 2000 – February 2005 |
Fiscal Year & Funding Level |
FY1999: USD 2,859,123
FY2002: USD 1,617,170 |
Problem to be Addressed |
Children engaged in small-scale traditional mining are commonly involved in the extraction, transport and crude processing of the mineral ore, and are often exposed to dynamite, mercury and other toxic and hazardous substances. They are required to carry heavy loads on their backs and to use quimbaletes (large mills or stones) to crush the ore. |
Results |
The project withdrew and prevented 10,036 children from working in small-scale mining activities in the communities of Potosí, Tipuani-Huanay and Llallagua in Bolivia; Bella Rica in Ecuador; and Santa Filomena, Mollehuaca and La Rinconada, in Peru. |
Project Objectives |
Phase 1:
Development Objective:
To contribute to the prevention and progressive elimination of child labor in small-scale traditional mining in South America and to improve quality of life of former working children.
Immediate Objectives:
- Sensitize key public and private organizations, the general public and mining communities in Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru about the child labor problem in small-scale traditional mining;
- Strengthen the commitment and institutional capacity of key public and private organizations in target countries to formulate and implement actions to prevent and progressively eliminate child labor in traditional small-scale traditional mining; and
- Withdraw and prevent children from working in hazardous activities in traditional small-scale mining through successful, replicable experiences in selected communities. In addition, improve living conditions in the communities.
Phase 2:
Development Objective:
To reduce the incidence of child labor in small-scale mining in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Immediate Objectives:
- Sensitize and mobilize key public and private agencies working at the national level in Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru to eliminate child labor in small-scale mining;
- Build consolidated and sustainable child labor monitoring systems in selected mining communities;
- Begin a process of sustainable development in which children will be withdrawn from or kept out of hazardous mine work; and
- Disseminate widely replicable intervention models.
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Summary of Activities |
Phase 1:
- Implemented low-cost technology into the mines and reduced the need for manual labor, especially high-risk activities in which children are often engaged;
- Removed children from dangerous mining activities in the three countries and prevented additional children from entering these jobs;
- Developed awareness-raising activities and alternative income generation schemes for approximately 2,500 families that will ultimately replace the need for children’s financial contributions through labor;
- Improved the quality and infrastructure of education, healthcare, and nutritional services at schools while providing assistance to make schooling a viable alternative to work;
- Raised awareness of community groups, NGOs, and governmental organizations about the magnitude of child labor, its impact on children, and the need to prevent and eliminate child labor in mines; and
- Strengthened governmental institutions and NGOs to take action and formulate policies geared towards the elimination of child labor in mining activities.
Phase 2:
- Prepared informational materials presented at awareness-raising and training workshops;
- Designed, produced and disseminated new awareness-raising materials;
- Built strategic alliances for institutional collaboration on implementation of a child labor monitoring system;
- Reviewed and formulated the child labor monitoring plan, developed and improved monitoring tools, and provided technical training to monitors;
- Assisted local communities develop local development plans and produced legislative and policy proposals for sustainable development in small-scale mining;
- Adapted tools and training for small-business development and community resource administration;
- Provided training on new mining technologies for small-scale miners and operators; and
- Documented and disseminated intervention models in mining areas of Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru.
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Partner Organizations |
Executing Agency
International Labor Organization’s International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (ILO-IPEC)
Implementing and Collaborating Agencies
Ministries of Labor, Education, Health, Mining and Social Welfare, NGOs, Employer's and Worker's organizations.
Peru: CooperAccion; Red Titikaka; CESIP.
Ecuador: Instituto Nacional del Niño y la Familia (INNFA); Centro de Desarrollo y Autogestion (DYA).
Bolivia: Centro de Promoción Minera (CEPROMIN); Fundacion Medio Ambiente, Mineria e Industria (MEDMIN); CDR. |
Contact Information |
Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking (OCFT)
(202) 693-4843 |
