My Turn to Speak. The Role of the Media in Addressing Child Labour in Latin America
“Dear adults, you may have lots of knowledge about the world, but we children are experts regarding ourselves and we know what violence against chilhood is.” The girl from the Phillippines who in 2006 presented the report on violence against children to the United Nations (UN).
Contributing to the eradication of child labour through quality education and social and institutional mobilisation is a goal that Fundación Telefónica has pursued for the integral restitution of the violated rights of working children which in Latin America, affects more than 14 million boys and girls..
That is why the media has a key role in disseminating information, sensitising people, and raising awareness of this problem. “My Turn to Speak” is a work promoted by Fundación Telefónica and developed by PANDI (Journalism Allied to Childhood, Social Development and Research, from its Spanish initials) with the participation of 7 countries throughout Latin America, where journalists and children have discussed and shared their different experiences and points of view. From a more horizontal standpoint, far removed from the vision of an adult, the boys and girls were able to use the right of participation and expression and were able to talk about the issues that affect them.
We adults often speak in their name, thinking for them, interpreting their reality, without considering their true opinions. In this project the main protagonists were the children themselves. More than 250 journalists took part in different activities with them and discussed child labour, poverty, education and violence, among other issues.