by Derek Cheng
Did you know that there are more than 2 million underprivileged street children now living in Mexico City? Did you know that many of them become prostitutes? Can you imagine that the number of street children is equivalent to the total population of Taipei? These are all facts. In reality, murder, consistent abuse, and inhumane treatment are more than common for these children. Because of Mexico’s economic fragility, street children often resort to begging, theft, and prostitution, which leads them vulnerable to transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS and other contagious illnesses. Living on the Street Begging on the streets is a harsh and fiercely competitive life, especially in a poor country like Mexico. Some street mothers even disable their children or themselves to gain sympathy. When I was in Mexico I witnessed babies with bodies full of bruises crying because their mothers constantly pinched them in order to gain attention of people passing by. Apart from begging, children are also sold. Some homeless girls become the victims of prostitution and pornography, especially on the border between Mexico and the US. Military personnel are often their clients. Soldiers pay 100 pesos (10 USD) for virgins, 50 pesos for other girls; the prettiest can be sold to high-ranking officers. Prostitution leads to infectious diseases like AIDS. Without money for medicine, some girls die young. Working on the Street Child exploitation is another severe problem. There are more than 5 million child laborers aged from 5 to 15 now working in Mexico. Mexican law prohibits children 13 and younger from working, and 14 to 16 can only work in the jobs which do not jeopardize their development. Nevertheless, children in Mexico are forced by their families to do factory work, mining, prostitution, and other tedious and repetitive jobs. In addition to the health risks, these jobs also deprive children of their right to go to school, which is the only way to pull them out of this vicious circle. NAFTA Byproduct 63% of Mexican children live under 2 USD per day, facing poverty and living in marginalized communities, according to the National Household Income and Expenditure Survey (ENIGH). This situation results not only from extreme poverty but also from the inequities of income distribution. The gap between rich and poor has become worse after the ratification of the NAFTA (North American Free Trade) Agreement in 1995. The places which have close trade relationships with the US have prospered, raising the price level of the domestic economy. This inflation has led to a hasher life for the poor since all the goods are more expensive. Export demands have also sparked even more illegal child labor. Corruption and bureaucracy have also led to this dreadful situation. Mexico has been listed as one of the most corrupt countries in the world by Transparency International. Money does not go to those who really need it and often evaporates in the bureaucratic system, particularly with corrupt border officials. A Better Future? The exploitation of children in Mexico is a perplexing problem. Forcing them to work to support the family or compelling them to beg on the street leads to a miserable life. What’s more, when they grow up they can only repeat what their families did to them. Going to school might help them to escape this rat race, but they are not provided with this chance. This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed, in order that these children can hope for a better future. a
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The Taida Student Journal has been active since 1995 with an ever-changing roster of student journalists at NTU. Click the above link to read about the authors Archives
May 2024
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