Mainstreaming the Issue of Working Children in Drugs

Volume V, Number I, June 2005 Issue

At a national conference in Pasig City, representatives from government, non-government organizations and research institutions laid down the foundation in combating the condition of an emerging sector, which qualifies to become part of what is considered to be the worst forms of child labor. We are referring of course to the existence of working children in drugs. 

Indeed what could be more hazardous and dangerous than involving yourself in criminal activities (i.e. such as selling drugs)? Not only are they exposed to tension-filled situations, they are also vulnerable to harassment and exploitation by drug dealers. This is not to downgrade the extent of hazards present in other forms of child labor but survival in this kind of environment literally means ensuring one does not get caught or worse, get killed. 

What do we know about working children in drugs? The drug problem is one of the most publicized issues in the country, particularly drug production, trafficking, and abuse. The level of involvement of children in the drug trade, however, is hardly discussed. News and statistics mainly deal with the number of raids conducted, the amount of drugs confiscated, and the prominent personalities involved.

Away from the public eye, we find hordes of people that enable the drug trade network to operate to reach its end users. And yes, this network includes children who perform various roles from runners to users in the whole gamut of trading, trafficking, and abuse of drugs. 

Attempts have been made to make this sector visible, one was through a rapid assessment in 2000 and another one using participatory action research in 2002, both studies selected urban poor communities in Metro Manila and Cebu as the target areas. Results yielded vital information on the pattern of drug use and recruitment of children, their initiation to drugs, and their involvement in drug sale and trafficking. These endeavors present significant steps in unmasking the real condition of children working in this so-called trade. 

Interventions in selected areas have been introduced which include capability-building of leaders and volunteers on the aspect of drug prevention research, community education, counseling, and crisis intervention work; community mobilization through anti-drug campaigns and awareness raising activities and anti-drug advocacy and training; educational support, and livelihood assistance.  This early, experiences of selected community-based projects have already produced good practices (i.e. establishment of healing centers) from which other communities could draw lessons to initiate their own projects on working children in drugs.

At present, what do we, as partners against child labor, need to do? One overriding concern that is currently being re-echoed during the initial consultations among partners, is the need to mainstream the issue of working children in drugs particularly at the national level to support the initiatives being undertaken at the community level. One option raised that could be explored is to formally include working children in drugs as one of the identified sectors in the Philippine Time-Bound Program in order to elevate the issue at a new level. 

Building on the limited information we have remains to be a challenge faced by partners in pursuing the effort to mainstream the issue of working children in drugs. However initial success in acquiring vital information on children involved in drug trade allows partners to be optimistic that unraveling situations as complex and as dangerous such as theirs is a definite possibility.

More than anything else, our optimism stems from the fact that anti-child labor partners have registered their commitment to give attention to working children in drugs along with the other worst forms of child labor. This commitment translates to concrete preventive strategies that will initially be pursued by partners predominantly in the areas of advocacy and research in order to develop appropriate services that will cater to the specific needs of these children. 

And this BATAMAN issue hopes to contribute in strengthening that commitment.