Child Poverty in Mozambique. A Situation and Trend ... - Unicef

- To use child labour (children aged 6 to 14: 72% at over 1.5 km versus 63% at
under 1.5 km; children aged 15 to 17: 54% at over 1.5 km versus 38% at under
1.5 km).
- To put their children to work all year long on the farm (children aged 6 to 14: 31%
at over 1.5 km versus 25% at under 1.5 km; children aged 15 to 17: 65% at over
1.5 km versus 41% at under 1.5 km).
3- Tobacco income level
The majority of the families received an income from the tobacco production in
2004/05 (only 15% of the families did not make any profit from tobacco). Children
(aged 6 to 17 years old) of families whose work in tobacco was not profitable
were found more likely:
- To work than children of families who received a tobacco income (73% versus
61%).
- Not to go to school than children of families who received a tobacco income
(44% versus 21%).
The study showed that parents thought that combining schooling with work was
the most productive way for children to spend their day. In general, they believed
that they were doing the best for their children by putting them to work, and that
it was the child’s ‘duty’ to help the family. Parents and their children were not at all
aware of the hazards that the work involved. It was clear that some parents also
wanted their children to work on the farm because they could save money by not
hiring non-family workers. In addition, while the parents may have been aware of
the benefits of schooling, it appeared that they made little effort to encourage the
children to attend school.
In spite of the small sample size, the study provides useful information on
the incidence and nature of child labour among small-scale tobacco farms and
highlights the need for awareness raising and other practical actions to address
this type of harmful child labour.
Source: A study of child labour in Tete and Niassa provinces, Mozambique, ECLT, 2005
3. Strengthening legal protection
A. A comprehensive legal framework for the protection of children
Effective legal protection is an integral part of a protective environment for children.
The absence of an adequate legal framework exacerbates a child’s vulnerability and
increases the likelihood that she or he will be denied a range of rights beyond those
strictly associated with protection. The responsibility for respecting, protecting and
fulfilling rights is shared among many actors. However the State, as the primary
guarantor of rights under international law, must to the fullest extent possible ensure
that effective protection exists in law; establish and strengthen effective institutions
to enforce the law and work together with civil society and the private sector to
promote positive values and practices in society in order to enhance the effectiveness
of legal protection.
Mozambique has ratified international and regional human rights instruments relating
to the protection of children, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and
the African Charters on Human and People’s Rights and on the Rights and Welfare
of the Child. Ratification of these instruments implies a Government commitment
to harmonise national legislation with obligations under international law. The
commitment to harmonising national law with Mozambique’s obligations as a State
party to international human rights instruments, led to the legal review process
conducted in 2004 (Sloth-Nielson and Gallinetti 2004).
196 CHILDHOOD POVERTY IN MOZAMBIQUE: A SITUATION AND TRENDS ANALYSIS