Today we celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This Declaration is the instrument that reflects the cooperation of the Member States with the voice and struggle of the communities for a better future. Along these lines, it should be noted that part of this struggle is to promote the protection of indigenous children and adolescents so that they can develop within their territories, access better opportunities and take care of their knowledge, customs and cultures.

For indigenous populations, work is a fundamental value that ensures the development and survival of the families that comprise them; However, there are times when indigenous boys and girls who work are exposed to various risks that threaten their indigenous life and identity. Under this framework, it is urgent to warn that in Latin America and the Caribbean there is an undetermined, but high, percentage of minors of indigenous origin who are victims of child labor and its worst forms. 

Many of the indigenous boys and girls who work do so outside their homes, carry out tasks for long hours and suffer accidents or illnesses as a result of the activities they carry out. Some of their violated rights are: not to be discriminated against, to identity, health, education and recreation; which with keys so that this group reaches the full development and, in the future, it manages to collaborate with the care, conservation and fortification of its towns.

Likewise, another of the dangerous situations linked to indigenous child labor is irregular and forced child migration, which prevents indigenous children from enjoying their childhood, family, learning the values ​​and knowledge of their communities and reinforcing their indigenous identity, causing a break with their peoples of origin and weakening the community structure and base.

Indigenous child labor is generally the result of the precarious living conditions of families and their communities, as well as the weak presence of government institutions in their territories. For this, it is necessary to strengthen and enhance capacities for intercultural dialogue between governments, organizations and indigenous populations.

Also, jointly identifying the causes of child labor in indigenous peoples will subsequently facilitate sustainable responses and will allow finding alternatives for its prevention, based on the values ​​and cultural forms of these populations. Likewise, implement comprehensive responses in coherence with the Sustainable Development Goals such as the End of Poverty (SDG1), Quality Education (4), Gender Equality (SDG5), Reduction of Inequalities (SDG10) and Decent Work and Economic Growth ( ODS8) will help families have various alternatives to get away from child labor.

Therefore, it is a priority to find and articulate specific responses and interventions agreed upon according to the specialty, capacity and competence of each key actor, as well as to strengthen the awareness of indigenous populations about the risks of child labor.

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We invite you to read and share our related publications:

• [EXECUTIVE SUMMARY] On the route of illusions: adolescent migrant workers aged 14-17 years in the countries of the Northern Triangle of Central America
• [EXECUTIVE SUMMARY] Perspective of indigenous peoples on child labor in the migratory context in Guatemala
• [EXECUTIVE SUMMARY] Perspective of indigenous and Afro-Honduran peoples on child labor in the migratory context in Honduras