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“I PROTECT CHILDREN, DO YOU?”
05 May 2008

Sophal was only six when he became a child brick factory worker. The rest of his family has spent over five years working in the brick factory. Together, the family of five earns less than US$25 per month. The work is hard, and the siblings often get sick. The job involves repetitive clay lifting, carting, drying, and carrying brick blocks into hot furnaces.

None of Sophal’s siblings is in school. Despite the jobs’ undesirable conditions they have no other choice. "Working in the brick factory, my children are challenged with the risks of getting their hands caught in clay cutting machines, or cough up blood from excessive weight from carrying clay. I have been thinking about changing jobs, but I cannot since I have no place to stay and cannot afford rent. This factory gives us room to stay, although small, it’s better than nothing,” says the mother.

World Vision and LICADHO joint research “Child Labour in Brick Factories Causes and Consequences” demonstrates that family economic hardship is the leading cause for child labour. According to the study, over 70% of the family needs to send their children to work in order to earn money for food.

“It is essential that parents, employers, government, UN agencies and NGOs work together to make sure that all children go to school for the development and growth of children in Cambodia”, says Naly Pilorge, Director of LICADHO.

Harsh economic situation makes it acceptable to parents to send their children to work in brick factories. One third of the parents interviewed do not perceive working in the brick factories as high risk jobs.

“We need the decisiveness of all concerned and the resources to ensure that children will not be placed in situations where they are at risk of being maimed or killed, where they will not be exploited and used in criminal activities, where they will not be sexually abused, where their development will not be hampered”, said Jojo Pastores, Senior Peace & Justice program manager, World Vision Cambodia.

LICADHO and WVC seek to help parents, children and brick factories employers to improve their understanding of the danger facing children and to promote the message “I protect children. Do you?” Said Naly Pilorge, “What can be said about a society that does not protect its children, a country plagued by violence, poverty, lawlessness and corruption. We must all protect children for the future of this country”.

For further information, please contact:
Miss. Naly Pilorge, Director of LICADHO, HP: 012 803 650 (English)
Mr. Vann Sophath, Deputy Director of Communication and Advocacy, LICADHO. HP: 012 94 12 06 (Khmer)
Mrs. Nay Chamnap, Communications Team Leader, WVC. HP: 012 75 95 65 (Khmer)

Name of the child is changed to protect his identify

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