Children have Rights to be Free

Yesterday was Children's Day (Día del Niño) here in Ecuador and in many other parts of the world.  When I turned on the radio in the morning, I heard commentaries about the need for better access to medical care, less child labor, and better education.  That's true not only here in Ecuador, but also in almost every country around the world.  While the tradition here in Ecuador is to give children a gift in their families and a special celebration in their school on this day, there are other children who worked yesterday just to have some money to buy food.  Most of those children weren't in school to participate in some special celebration.

Everyday here in Ecuador I see children who don't have the same advantages I had growing up.  Most days as I ride the bus, there are young boys and girls pushing their way through the crowded bus to sell gum or candy to commuters.  I live just up the hill from a large public high school, where two separate groups of students receive their education each weekday.  There is an additional Saturday school group and a once-a-month distance-learning school.  Sharing that space with so many other students cuts down on the time those students spend in the classroom learning.  And they are the lucky ones.  In July outside some schools, one can see parents literally camped out to reserve a cupo or space so that their son or daughter can attend that public school when it begins classes in August.  If the parent isn't successful, that child misses a year of school.

While this post might seem pessimistic, I'd like to end on a hopeful note.  First, by celebrating days like yesterday and focusing on the needs of children, we raise awareness and can work to improve the opportunities for each child.  Second, progress is being made, albeit slowly.  Ecuador is actively working to end child labor for children under 15 years of age, and in recent months, I've seen much more enforcement  of labor laws in this country.  And third, part of my work in business development is to support job creation.  As parents are able to earn a fair wage and support their families, they are able to send their children to school instead of sending them to sell gum on the streets.

Last night as I listened to some music, a bitter sweet song that has become one of my favorites came up on my playlist.  K'Naan asks in his song Fatima, "Why do we say that the children have rights to be free?"  He questions that statement because in his personal experience it wasn't always true.

I would respond that we must continue saying that children have rights to be free because the moment we stop saying that, we give in to those who would take freedom away.  But if we keep that right to be free in our mind even when it's not Children's Day, we remember our responsibility to ensure that right is respected for all children.