Work and education in children and adolescents as human rights. An Ecuadorian referendum

Abstract

The economic situation contributes to increased poverty in the lowest social strata, forcing families, including children and adolescents, to seek means of subsistence in both urban and rural areas. This situation is worrisome, as children are unable to attend school or access protection programs. Poverty is directly linked to child and adolescent labor. Minors are observed on public roads, selling goods, “watching cars,” and suffering verbal or physical abuse, without achieving the full development of their human rights. This protection can be achieved through appropriate institutions, without depriving them of their childhood. This aspiration is for an effective process, ensuring justice for this group of minors, who will be the future Ecuadorian workers contributing to the country’s economy. This study is documentary, analytical, and hermeneutical in nature. It is important to consider that international organizations such as the ILO and UNICEF have dedicated themselves to promoting the prohibition of child labor, monitoring progress with the support of their respective governments, with the goal of ending child labor.