Concept in Definition ABC

In some Latin American territories, there are still different forms of semi-slavery and child exploitation. Although they are prohibited by the law and oppose the human rightsIn everyday reality, thousands of children and adolescents continue to be victims of abuse and mistreatment. Criadazgo is a version of child exploitation and in Paraguay it manifests itself in all its harshness.

Criadazgo encourages child labor

In the rural context with scarce economic resources some parents decide to give their children to wealthy families to take care of feeding and educating them. However, in reality these children are used to carry out household tasks without receiving any type of remuneration in return. In some cases, child labor is the prelude to other forms of abuse: physical and psychological abuse, sexual exploitation, etc.

In recent years, Paraguayan institutions have tried to combat this phenomenon. To this end, social awareness campaigns and free telephone numbers have been launched. emergency so that the citizenship report the criadazgo.

The National Secretary of the Childhood and Adolescence is the institution that leads the fight against this type of abuse. The Paraguayan state has committed to eliminating this practice of child servitude, but every year complaints are filed and news of great impact appear in the media of communication.

According to the World Labor Organization (ILO), criadazgo is one of the worst forms of child labor

One of the main problems of this child servitude consists of its normalization in broad sectors of Paraguayan society. Boys and girls in these conditions, servants and servants in popular language, are not always considered victims. In fact, there are people who consider that children poor and without resources they have a new chance to get ahead.

The historical roots are in the encomienda

This form of exploitation camouflaged in a form of adoption is by no means a current phenomenon, but has its roots in the colonial past. In Latin America as a whole, indigenous people were forced to do jobs and pay tribute to an encomendero to enjoy a roof and food.

The institution of the encomienda implied that the person in charge of the natives had a concession granted by the Spanish crown. This form of exploitation began at the beginning of the Conquest and was already criticized at that time by some religious and jurists who considered it abusive and unacceptable.

This phenomenon is a natural heir to the encomienda and was consolidated after two military disasters suffered by Paraguay: the Triple Alliance War in 1864 and the Chaco War in 1932. In both situations, many poor families decided to have their children raised by wealthy families.

Fotolia photos: Gabrieuskal / Tinnakorn