Eradication of child labour Mexico
This is the only initiative developed by a private company in Mexico contributing to the eradication of child labour
Mexico City, 15th June 2011. Five years after the start of the Proniño programme in Mexico, over 90,000 children have been assisted through this initiative which aims to eradicate child labour.
To celebrate five years of contribution to the eradication of child labour exploitation, a press conference and breakfast were organized. Public and private organizations working with the programme and experts in children's rights were invited, such as the International Labour Organization, the Organization of Latin American States, and the National Institute of Social Development. In addition, 37 pieces from the exhibition "Children's Rights" by the artist Juan Sebastián were exhibited.
Francisco Gil Díaz, Executive Chairman of Telefónica Mexico and Central America, stated: "Proniño is Telefónica's most important programme in terms of social investment, constituting a long term commitment with Latin America. In Mexico, Proniño is present in 140 state schools, two farms and six care centres. Thanks to this programme, it has been possible to install 40 IT rooms equipped with up-to-date technology and internet access in different Mexican cities".
José Antonio Fernández Valbuena, Director of Fundación Telefónica, highlighted the fact that Proniño's priority is to establish alliances with actors in the civil society and governmental organizations linked to children and child labour, as well as to raise awareness about a worldwide problem.
"In Mexico, through Proniño 99.98% of continuous schooling and 98.48% attendance are achieved. In 2010 alone, we managed to get one out of three children participating in the programme out of work", pointed out Fernández Valbuena.
Within the framework of the 5th anniversary of Proniño in Mexico, on 12th June the "First Proniño Race against Child Labour" was organized in Paseo de la Reforma. More than 2,500 people took part and over half a million pesos were raised in proceeds, which shall go entirely to this cause.
Also, on 9th June the creation of the Social Table against the Exploitation of Girls, Boys and Adolescents was announced, in which 16 governmental and non-governmental organizations take part, including Fundación Telefónica. The objective is to become a space that generates knowledge and social awareness and that influences public policies and unites actors to promote the exercise of children's rights in Mexico.
It is worth mentioning thatProniño is a social action programme that has been managed by Fundación Telefónica since 2005 and started to operate in Mexico in 2006. In Latin America, it supports society through 432 classrooms benefitting over 211,000 children in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama and Uruguay.
