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Peru's Government Begins Program to Keep Children from Begging on Streets

(LIP-ir) -- The Ministry of Women & Social Development (MIMDES) will carry out the first “raid” of parents who rent or use their children by dressing them in rags and have them beg in the streets, announced Minister Susana Pinilla.

Although she did not mention where these raids would take place exactly, Pinilla explained that a ministerial group was evaluating the punishment bad parents would receive for these acts against children's rights.

"Any person that uses a child for these activities will receive a serious punishment, this is to avoid the use of children for begging on the streets in different ways, for example, begging on a corner, selling on the streets or used as ‘mules’", she stated.

She said the Ministry of Women would not allow children to work because this was a commitment made in the Free Trade Agreement between Peru and the United States.

“We are firm on this subject, it is better that Peru's society understands the consequences of their actions, because we will use all the law's power to avoid this situation”, she stressed.

On previous occasions, this initiative was named “Campaign against begging”, in which Peru's National Police along with the Public Ministry and the Ministry of Women took in abandoned street kids and placed them in the care of the National Institute of Family Welfare.

News source: ANDINA

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# Anonymous Dave says :
5 January, 2008 [ 09:18 ]

It's tempting to buy sweets from children in the street, but to do so, according to the Municipality of Surco, you are actually harming them. The parents of these kids often rent them to criminal rings who drop them off around the city to sell sweets - at the end of the day the money is collect and the child returned to the parents. The parents could otherwise send the kid to school. Other parents keep the kids out of school and beg/sell sweets with them for more pity value.
This is what Surco has said and asked residents some weeks back to stop buying sweets from children so that they could go to school instead.

# Michael says :
5 January, 2008 [ 10:17 ]

Once when I was in Huancayo, I stopped and talked to a boy selling Tamales.  It was nice to talk to him - especially since his spanish was very simple (he was 5 years old), and we understood each other perfectly.

I sat down next to him, found out why he was alone (his mother was paying a bill at the bank), and how his family was.  Seems he and his mother went out selling Tamales and other food they made while his 7 year old sister took care of a 1 year old baby brother at home.

I found out his name was the same as mine (Michael Antonio), and about this time his mother returned.  She seemed to be a nice person as well.  I gave Michael a 5-sole coin and told him I hope to see him again next time I am in Peru and Huancayo (which will be in a few months actually).  He smiled, blushed, and snuggled up against his mom.

I am more apt to give money to someone who looks poor, but is working.  Another time I arrived in Huancayo by bus, a  8 or 9 year old boy rushed to my side, grabbed one of my heavy suitcases, and cried "I'll help, I'll help!" and helped with my bag to a taxi.  I gave him a nice tip.

I see children begging in Peru, and once in awhile I do give them some centavos or even a sole. I've heard of the gangs who "rent" children - and people told me it was mostly the ones begging in traffic at street corners this applied to (in Lima).  Sometimes it is hard not to give something to the ones who look particularly pathetic.

The only thing I have ever been irritated about is seeing a boy I gave half a sole to (who was selling sweets) went almost immediately into an arcade to spend it playing a game.  I decided after that I wasn't going to give money anymore to the kids selling sweets (though once in awhile I have anyway - but I've alway been in a town in the Andes on those occassions, and its been with very young children out begging).

I empathize with those begging in the streets, and in the future I might do something more like stop and buy them some food from a nearby vendor if they want it, but not give them any money (that's usually my rule in the US) unless they seem to be doing something to work for it.

# Martin says :
5 January, 2008 [ 12:10 ]

Michel - you actions are well intentioned, but are helping a terrible situation to continue. Better that you 'lecture' the mother on using contraception rather than having more children that she can not afford to have and then exploits their labour.

# Martin says :
5 January, 2008 [ 12:15 ]

Legislation that keeps begging children off the streets is long overdue. Let's hope that it is strongly inforced.

It is a sad commentary that a trade treaty with the US was required to bring about such legislation.

# Splaktar says :
5 January, 2008 [ 14:12 ]

Yep, renting children to gangs or having the parents beat the children if they don't come home with enough beer money is very common and well known in Peru.

Anytime you buy anything from children that should be in school, you are contributing to his parents abusive behavior and to the enslavement and lack of education of the child.

I never give money to beggars. 

Like said above though, I've been really tied when hiking through Huaraz and some kid came up and talked to me for a bit.  We were just passing near his villiage.  I was pretty beat and tired after 4 days of hiking.  The kid asked if I was tired and I told him that I was really tired.  After a bit he took off and I kept on hiking, trying to catch up with my friends (cross country runners).   The kid caught up with me about 20 minutes later.  He was riding one of his family's horses and pulling another behind him.

He offered me the horse to finish the final 500-800 meter climb up to where my friends were catching our combi back to Huaraz.  There was no saddle or anything like that, just a rope to hang on with an guide the horse.  Luckily I grew up around horses and had spent a good deal of time riding them.  It was a pretty steep climb and the horse had to jump a number of times to get his back legs up over the rocks.  This amounted to a pretty strong bucking motion, but luckily I was prepared and able to keep ahold of the horse with my legs. 

It was one of the most enjoyable and exciting horse rides that I've ever taken.  I'm sure one of the hardest for the horse, he was sweating like crazy when we finished.  But a climb that would have taken me another hour, was cut down to a relaxing climb on horseback in about 15 minutes. 

I appreciated this kid and his willingness to share his horse so much.  He didn't ask me for money or beg for candy or anything like that.  I tipped him 200 soles.

I hate beggers, but love to reward hard working people who are willing to go out of their way to help others.

# Martin says :
5 January, 2008 [ 15:37 ]

Martin;

You are probably right, but I doubt the mother was having children just to have labor to help her sell tamales.

I should also mention this was at night in Huancayo, and that the boy was indeed going to school (he told me which, but I don't remember the name).

# Splaktar says :
5 January, 2008 [ 16:25 ]

In Peru, it's not the women that need to be told the value of contraceptives.  Many women here are forced to NOT use them by their husbands.  The husbands think that if the wife is taking the pill, then she's going to start sleeping with everyone in town and the husband will never find out because she won't get pregnant.

After having seen some of the loyalty problems here, the men aren't totally off base in this thinking, but knocking the wife up constantly so she won't sleep with other people isn't the best way to handle it :)  It just leads to poverty and child abuse.

# bb says :
5 January, 2008 [ 17:17 ]

I don't know if I'm doing th right thing or not but I do buy candy from street children, especially if a see the mother close by breast feeding a baby (in most cases) I don't even eat candy and end up giving it away.

The last time I was home (Lima) I bought 5 Frunas from a little boy, he looked so happy that I was tempted to buy the whole box. I'm sorry to say this but I'm not surprised if the authorities in Surco are telling you not to help. They just want to clean up their streets from poor vendors and beggars. I don't think they are 100% doing it so the children won't get rented by gangs. Let's be honest they don't care.

About the pill issue. In 1980 (aprox) when the Pope was in Peru, he went to remore areas in Peru and told the "campesinas" not to use protection because it is not what God wanted them to do. Religion plays a very important role in this problem, Peruvian farmers tend to listen to what the "father/cura" says more then anyone else.

By the way I love the style of the current Pope, PRADA shoes, Gucci glasses...chic.

# Martin says :
6 January, 2008 [ 08:50 ]

To all those 'explaining' why contraception is not used - - I am aware of your 'explanations'. But explanations as to why contraception is not used is not the answer to a serious problem that holds back Peru's economic, educational, etc. progress. If Peru really wants to progress, major structural/cultural changes will have to occur. But perhaps then Peru will no longer be the Peru that is just fine for many people.

# Splaktar says :
6 January, 2008 [ 09:45 ]

No one is arguing that contraception isn't needed, just that 'lecturing' random mothers in the street isn't the answer.

# Johanna says :
6 January, 2008 [ 10:06 ]

I just read the post about the man who gace the child a sole or something like that, and the kid almost immediatly went to spend it in an ardace...HE IS A KID for goodness sake!!!  It is bad enough that he is living in poverty, but a chance at a little normalcy(fun) was something that you helped him get to do.

You must forget what it is like to be a child:-( Maybe start seeing the eyes through the world of your children-if you have any, or through the eyes of a poor street child.....Imagine your life and what you have, and imagine theirs.....

# Michael says :
6 January, 2008 [ 10:45 ]

Johanna;

It is a little frustrating to see kids begging or selling candies, and telling you their family has no food - or something like that - and then see them playing games in the arcade with the money.

# Benny J. says :
6 January, 2008 [ 17:25 ]

Martin? You said it in a nut shell. Contraception. Pull out, use the rain coat, do something. The end result is kids reaching in through the windows, stealing your necklace, or a purse. Only to supply the stolen property to the crimmal gangs. Kids get squat other that another tube of testors glue to sniff.

# Carmen says :
11 February, 2008 [ 07:41 ]

I know giving something will not solve the problem but it really breaks my heart to see little ones in the street with a skinny body and with a very hungry face. My child is only 3 and I protect him and give him all I can, but I also think that I should help others if they are asking for help. When I was single and living in Peru I used to go with some of my friends to help some street kids in a place run by the police where they were given food and a place to sleep. The police were not really concern about them but thankfully there were other people bringing some kind of help. We used to go during weekends and just by interacting with them we could understand why they were in the situation they were in. If everybody could do something perhaps things could be different. But if you want to be indifferent then at least leave others to continue helping. There are so many ways to help but before you could say something try to get involve and understand the problems and their roots.

# Ysabel says :
22 May, 2008 [ 12:02 ]

I agree with Carmen 100% the "roots" ! Let's modify, help, change the roots and today and  tomorrow's children will be free of begging  and happy like ours. Why ours are happy ? because we do not have the need of asking for money in the streets, why? because we went to school and got good education.
If I lose one job I can get another. Can they?
About contraception, don't waiste your time by offering men condoms and women pills . Poor people in Peru will not use it, is the same  phenomenon as the "candy children". You cannot educate a 40 year old man about contraception. You can educate his children! (if they don't go to a Catholic school they will hear that education).

# Ysabel says :
22 May, 2008 [ 12:02 ]

I agree with Carmen 100% the "roots" ! Let's modify, help, change the roots and today and  tomorrow's children will be free of begging  and happy like ours. Why ours are happy ? because we do not have the need of asking for money in the streets, why? because we went to school and got good education.
If I lose one job I can get another. Can they?
About contraception, don't waiste your time by offering men condoms and women pills . Poor people in Peru will not use it, is the same  phenomenon as the "candy children". You cannot educate a 40 year old man about contraception. You can educate his children! (if they don't go to a Catholic school they will hear that education).

# CapitanDan says :
22 May, 2008 [ 13:22 ]

I don't give to beggars anymore after I found out that children were hired out by their parents.But I do this? My first trip to Peru my Spanish was terrible and the company I worked for hired me a translator/driver. I was in Paita on business and my driver her supervisor and myself stopped at a small restaurant to eat lunch. My companions knew the owner and the food was excellent. While we were eating a small boy around 7 came into the restaurant his clothes were torn and dirty. He approached a Peruvian Family of 4. The parents were in their 60's and 2 daughters were in their 30's. The family was done eating and the boy asked if he could finish what was on their plates. I asked the owner about this and he said he did not the boy's name but he was homeless and he often came to his restaurant . The owner let the boy eat and sleep at the restaurant.. He didn't ask for money, just food. The boy was hesitant to approach me and my companions ,because he knew that I was gringo and  my size probably frightened him. I asked the owner to give him whatever he wanted to eat and I would pay for it. I told my driver to tell the owner to clean the boy up and get him new clothing and I would pay for the clothes and food .My Driver would check in on the boy and I would pay him 5 dollars a day each month. I returned to the U.S. and I paid for 6 months .This went on for 6 months and he just never showed up at the restaurant. The owner gave my driver the money that wasn't used. The owner and his workers looked for the boy but didn't find him. It still bothers me and that was years ago. I stop in Paita all the time now and I still hope he may remember me and approach me. He refused to come with us and no one ever knew his name. Chau.