Media vital in solving issues on child labor

In their fight against child labor, World Vision Philippines has partnered with media organizations to solve the impending problem on worst forms of child labor in the country.

At the 1st media summit on child labor held in Manila, Daphne Culanag of the ABK Initiative said that media plays a vital role in resolving the issue on child labor which is one of the impending problems around the world where approximately 250 million children are engaged in different economic activities and exploitation according to reports from the International Labor Organization.

A memorandum of agreement for each of the partnerships between the government and the media, educators and the media and the community and the media was signed. The agreement bore the commitment of each sector to help address the problems on child labor.

Culanag said that children's issues are not usually covered by the media, which is why they are reaching out to media outlets and networks to help address the problem.

"Media should be involved with awareness raising activities on the issue. Data and facts on child labor should also be accessible," Culanag said.

In the Philippines, statistics showed that an estimated 4 million Filipino children aged 5-17 years are economically active. Over half of them are exposed to the hazards, in which some are into the worst forms of labor including mining and quarrying, domestic labor, pyrotechnic production, commercial and sexual exploitation, deep sea fishing and sugarcane plantation.

World Vision Philippines has already assisted more than 3,000 child laborers in Cebu where they are being sent to schools and given proper education.

World Vision Development Foundation, an international Christian development organization, is committed to uplifting the lives of less fortunate people and communities in more than 90 countries worldwide.

The summit dubbed "Media factor in addressing child labor through education" was held at the Century Park Hotel in Manila and was attended by participants of different media outfits including government and non-government organizations involved in the matter. - Jasmin R. Uy