Alexis Hunter 555-767-3434

United Nations alexish@unitednations.gov

405 East 42nd Street www.un.org
New York, NY, 10017,
USA

April 12th, 2018

Malacanang Complex
J.P Laurel Street
San Miguel, Manila
1005

Dear President Duterte:

The United Nations has become very concerned with the way that the government is handling the
problem of child labor in gold mines in the Philippines. It has come to our attention that there has
been a significant increase in the number of injuries to children due to the harmful effects of child
labor. It is very disheartening that small children are not safe and guaranteed an education due to the
large number of cases of child labor in gold mines. This needs to change and action needs to be
taken in order to prevent this from continuing in the future.

Background Information
The United Nations is aware that the Philippines is a poverty stricken country, and because of this
many areas in government policy remain flawed. However, certain problems are worth using more
resources and spending more revenue in order to fix. The conditions in small scaled gold mines are
horrible for anyone, let alone children. Children are forced to mine in underwater pits which are
extremely dangerous and hazardous as they can drown or even develop skin infections from the
bacteria in the water. Underwater gold mining is just one of the many reasons children should not be
working in small scaled gold mines.

Requesting Action Against Child Labor

In order to move the country forward and remain humane, the United Nations would like the Filipino
government to intervene in these hazardous conditions of child labor. Extensive laws should be
mandated and strictly enforced by law enforcement. The people who are in charge of and oversee
small-scaled gold mines with children working in them should be the first to do serious time in jail.
Parents of the children who are allowed to skip school in order to work in gold mines should also be
indicted on accounts of child abuse.

In order for things to change in the Philippines, I ask that you address the following questions:
1. What laws are already in place to prevent child labor and why are they not working?
2. What type of punishment is necessary for adults to realize that child labor is immoral?
The sooner the government processes these questions and comes up with answers to them, the
sooner children will be safe and will stay in school. The children are the future of the country and
without them, the country will not be able to continue to grow.

The United Nations hopes to see serious action taken against illegal child labor in the near future!

Best regards,

Alexis Hunter
United Nations