DOMINICAN REPUBLIC UPDATE ON WORST FORMS OF CHILD

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTO DOMINGO 004145

SIPDIS

DOL/ILAB FOR TINA MCCARTER; DRL/IL FOR LAUREN HOLT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ETRD PHUM SOCI DR
SUBJECT: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC UPDATE ON WORST FORMS OF CHILD
LABOR

REF: A. (A) STATE 143552

B. (B) 04 SANTO DOMINGO 04809


1. This cable is in response to ref A request for an update
on worst forms of child labor in the Dominican Republic. The
2004 Child Labor Information Update from Santo Domingo (ref
B) remains current, with the following additional information.


2. On October 17, 2004, the new Code for Protection of
Minors, Law 136-03 (Codigo para el Sistema de Proteccion y
los Derechos Fundamentales de los Ninos, Ninas y
Adolescentes, Ley 136-03) was implemented. The Code
recognizes the National Council for Children and Adolescents
(CONANI) as a non-cabinet, decentralized public agency to
coordinate public policy, to protect children's human rights,
and to administer the Code. The law stipulates that CONANI is
to receive at least 2 percent of the national budget and that
a minimum of 5 percent of municipal government budgets must
be devoted to projects to benefit children. The Code contains
strengthened provisions against the problem areas of child
abuse, including physical and emotional mistreatment, sexual
exploitation, and child labor. The Code provides for a
penalty of between 3 and 10 years incarceration and a fine of
10 to 30 times the minimum wage for persons, companies or
institutions found guilty of child sexual exploitation, and
for a penalty of between 20 and 30 years incarceration and a
fine of 100 to 150 times the minimum wage for persons,
companies or institutions found guilty of commercialization
of children and adolescents.


3. A National Plan of Action (NPA) to combat the worst forms
of child labor is being completed. As part of the design
process, bilateral and group consultations have been carried
out with seven sectors including: protection institutions
(Attorney General Office, Office of the First Lady, National
Childhood Council - CONANI),service providing institutions
(Ministries of Education, and Health),institutions working
in the rural sector (Ministry of Agriculture, Banco Agrcola,
PROMIPYMES),and data collection and statistic offices
(Central Bank, National Office of Plan - ONAPLAN). The Plan
should be launched in the forthcoming months.


4. On April 1, 2005 ILO-IPEC officially launched two
programs to be implemented in the rice-growing area
(Provinces Duarte and Maria Trinidad Sanchez) by Caritas and
the Instituto de Desarrollo de la Economia Asociativa
(IDEAC). Numerous representatives from local and central
authorities participated in the launch. Representatives from
the Ministries of Labor, Education, Heath, Women, two
District Attorneys, two Governors and two members of
Parliament were present. Labor Attache of the US Embassy
also participated in the event. The program, developed with
Caritas, focuses on the implementation of four components:
awareness raising/social mobilization, investigation,
capacity building and direct services to children, including
education, health and legal support. The program aims at
withdrawing 2,100 children engaged in hazardous activities in
the rice sector, preventing 4,620 children from work and
supporting 1,050 families. A total of twenty seven
communities will be targeted. In addition, a separate program
developed with the Instituto de Desarrollo de la Economia
Asociativa (IDEAC),implements the income-generating
component. This program aims at supporting 1,050 families
through training activities on formulation of income
generative mini-projects, guidance and counseling on saving
practices, facilitation of access to micro-credit schemes.
Three hundred of these families who demonstrate best skills
and capacities will receive additional support to start up
their own businesses.


5. From April 27-28, 2005, Secretary of Labor staff, in
particular labor inspectors and local representatives,
participated in a training workshop on child labor and labor
inspection. The Child Labor Unit, the Direction of Industrial
Health and Safety, the Employment Unit, the Labor Inspection
Unit and the Statistics Unit of the Ministry of Labor jointly
organized the workshop.


6. On May 6, 2005 a program against Commercial Sexual
Exploitation of children in Las Terrenas by the Fundacion
Azucar was officially launched. The program provides
education, health services and legal support to
beneficiaries. In total, 100 children at risk or victims of
child sexual exploitation and fifty families will benefit
from the program interventions.


7. The NGO FLASCO, the Secretary of Labor, and ILO-IPEC
carried out a baseline survey on child labor exploitation and
trafficking in the western border province of San Juan de la
Maguana. A stakeholders, meeting was organized to share its
results and identify possible lines of intervention. The
Ministry of Labor coordinated the meeting that took place at
the Governor,s Office on the third of June. Almost ninety
persons representing all key sectors were present. The event
received strong political support with the participation of
the Governor of the Province of San Juan, the President of
the Appeals Court and the Under Secretary of Labor
responsible for child labor issues. The NGO Plan
International was identified to implement an Action Program
to remove and prevent exploitative child labor in crop
plantations in the border area, in which the majority of
working children are Haitians who live illegally in the
country. A technical workshop was organized June 22nd to
elaborate a strategy of intervention. Activities are planned
to start in the forthcoming weeks.


8. COMMENT: The Dominican Republic continues to make
progress in eliminating the worst forms of child labor.
According to the Under Secretary of Labor in charge of the
Child Labor Unit, 25,000 children have been removed from
working in areas of agriculture in the last year under the
current administration. However, widespread poverty
continues to lead children to drop out of school and join
exploitative work conditions in order to contribute to the
family welfare. The Ministry of Education and Ministry of
Labor have both provided significant support in eliminating
child labor but it will be a difficult task if more resources
are not devoted toward the cause.
KUBISKE