Embassy Tegucigalpa Welcomes DOL Regional Basic

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002294

SIPDIS

STATE FOR DRL/IL, WHA/PPC, AND WHA/CEN
STATE PASS AID FOR DCHA/DG, EGAT, AND LAC/CEN
DOL FOR ILAB (TFAULKNER)
GUATEMALA FOR AGATT
PANAMA FOR CUSTOMS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PGOV PHUM OTRA AFIN HO
SUBJECT: Embassy Tegucigalpa Welcomes DOL Regional Basic
Education Project Targeting Child Laborers

Ref: (A) State 252932

(B) Olsen/Faulkner e-mail 9/11/03
(C) Tegucigalpa 2025


1. Post strongly supports the Department of Labor's proposed
regional basic education project targeting child laborers
and children at risk of working in Central America and
welcomes the proposed visit of DOL officials/consultants
(ref A).


2. DOL is currently funding ILO/IPEC programs to combat
child labor in the following sectors: coffee in Santa
Barbara, melons in Choluteca, commercial sexual exploitation
of children in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, and child
divers in the Mosquitia. (ILO/IPEC also has programs funded
by other donors to help combat child labor in garbage dumps
and domestic service in Tegucigalpa.) In addition,
USAID/Washington is funding a successful one-year pilot
project in Valle to provide educational opportunities to
working children, which ends in December 2003. Post
understands that further USAID/Washington funding for this
project is unlikely.


3. Post suggests that DOL consider (1) working with ILO/IPEC
to expand its program in Choluteca to encompass the USAID
project in neighboring Valle and add sugar cane farms and
child victims of commercial sex exploitation in the area
which borders both El Salvador and Nicaragua, or (2) expand
work combating commercial sexual exploitation of children in
Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, and other large population
centers which would augment the USG's support for increased
GOH efforts against trafficking in persons (both domestic
and international). Post notes that while assisting
children working in commercial agriculture (a sector key to
CAFTA) is a high priority, most child laborers work in the
informal sector. Another option would be to begin a new
program to assist children in the informal sector, many of
whom might be street children or at risk to become street
children.


4. Note: Please see ref C for more information on child
labor in Honduras. End Note.

Palmer