WEBVTT 00:00:10.03 --> 00:00:14.07 500 M DEEP CERRO RICO MOUNTAIN BOLIVIA 00:00:16.12 --> 00:00:18.18 [ Miner ] Uncle smokes with me here. 00:00:18.21 --> 00:00:20.18 [ Miner ] Our regular Friday rite. 00:00:20.22 --> 00:00:24.19 [ Miner ] We give him pure alcohol, he gives us pure minerals. 00:00:24.22 --> 00:00:26.05 [ Miner ] Pure! 00:00:27.09 --> 00:00:28.19 [ Miner ] The purest. 00:00:28.21 --> 00:00:30.00 [ James ] Thank you. 00:00:30.14 --> 00:00:32.19 [ JAMES BROWN, correspondent ] What do I have to do? Drink it or give it to the uncle? 00:00:32.21 --> 00:00:35.23 [ Woman ] Should he pour some for Pachamama? [ Miner ] Yes. 00:00:36.02 --> 00:00:39.03 [ Miner ] No, it's for Uncle. [ James ] Pour it for Uncle. 00:00:39.04 --> 00:00:42.10 [ James ] For the Uncle. Ok, just pour out. [ Woman ] A little bit and you will drink. 00:00:42.10 --> 00:00:43.21 [ James ] And I’ll drink the rest, ok. 00:00:48.14 --> 00:00:49.20 [ James ] Thank you. 00:00:50.17 --> 00:00:52.07 [ Miner ] One more? [ James ] Yes! 00:00:53.18 --> 00:00:55.02 [ Miner ] More alcohol. 00:00:56.23 --> 00:00:59.20 [ Miner ] You have to have two. [ James ] Thanks a lot. 00:01:01.13 --> 00:01:03.16 [ James ] These are the coca leaves? 00:01:03.17 --> 00:01:07.09 [ Woman ] Yes, and you have to use both hands to take them 00:01:07.17 --> 00:01:08.22 [ James ] Thank you. 00:01:09.16 --> 00:01:11.04 [ James ] Should I eat? 00:01:18.04 --> 00:01:21.13 [ Miner ] We start early morning and leave late evening. 00:01:21.21 --> 00:01:25.15 [ Miner ] Coca leaves give us strength, stave off hunger 00:01:25.16 --> 00:01:27.08 and ward off sleep. 00:01:27.16 --> 00:01:33.05 [ James ] I think this is the most unique thing that I’ve ever seen in my life. Really. 00:01:40.06 --> 00:01:43.01 UNDERMINED 00:01:44.17 --> 00:01:48.08 [ Wilfredo, 17, Miner ] The miners only have houses and cars... 00:01:48.17 --> 00:01:50.02 thanks to him. 00:01:50.22 --> 00:01:54.11 [ Wilfredo ] Underground, we find what he sends to us. 00:01:54.12 --> 00:01:56.20 [ Wilfredo ] At least this is OK because 00:01:56.21 --> 00:01:58.19 [ Wilfredo ] Uncle gives us a lot 00:01:58.20 --> 00:02:02.03 and we give him only what we have. 00:02:19.21 --> 00:02:25.16 [ VO ] Cerro Rico - the highest silver mines on the planet, active for almost 500 years. 00:02:25.17 --> 00:02:28.12 Hacked into the rocks the deep shafts are 00:02:28.13 --> 00:02:31.22 plagued by cave ins and accidents. In the thin, 00:02:31.22 --> 00:02:35.07 dusty air, the miners work without eye protection, 00:02:35.08 --> 00:02:38.03 breathing apparatus and they often work 00:02:38.03 --> 00:02:41.01 drunk. It’s extremely dangerous, sometimes 00:02:41.02 --> 00:02:44.09 fatal and frequently carried out by children. 00:02:47.15 --> 00:02:51.10 [ VO ] Young children have worked in Bolivia for generations. 00:02:51.11 --> 00:02:55.03 Almost 3 quarters of a million are doing so today. This 00:02:55.04 --> 00:02:58.22 culture led to the development of Bolivia’s new, liberal 00:02:58.23 --> 00:03:02.16 and highly controversial Children’s code in 2014, which 00:03:02.17 --> 00:03:06.02 gave children as young as 10 the right to work under 00:03:06.03 --> 00:03:10.03 certain circumstances. Critics in the West said Bolivia had 00:03:10.04 --> 00:03:14.03 effectively legalized child labour. The government says the 00:03:14.04 --> 00:03:18.03 laws protect the rights and health of their young workers. 00:03:25.04 --> 00:03:28.10 LA PAZ BOLIVIA 10 p.m. 00:03:34.11 --> 00:03:37.03 FROM THE BOLIVIAN LAW NO. 548: Children and adolescents 00:03:37.03 --> 00:03:39.21 between the ages of 10 and 14 may not work past 10 p.m. 00:03:42.00 --> 00:03:47.16 [ James ] So, are the new laws working? Has the situation got better since 2014? 00:03:49.02 --> 00:03:53.00 [ Yuri ] We working to eliminate the child labour but step by step. 00:03:55.16 --> 00:03:57.18 [ James ] So that was the 5-years plan, right? [ Yuri ] Yes! 00:03:57.23 --> 00:04:04.11 [ James ] So by 2019 they want to say 'no mas' ('no more'), basically? 00:04:05.05 --> 00:04:10.10 [ Yuri ] It's very difficult to say 'no mas' because it's only 5 years. 00:04:10.24 --> 00:04:16.09 [ Yuri ] But, you know, it’s a huge… it’s a high… I don’t know how to say “meta” 00:04:17.07 --> 00:04:19.21 [ James ] Like a level, I guess. [ Yuri ] Yes, yes, yes! 00:04:19.22 --> 00:04:26.10 [ James ] Your aim high! Aim to the stars! [ Yuri ] Yes, it’s very…very high. 00:04:27.20 --> 00:04:31.04 [ YURI CALISAYA, former Labour Ministry employee ] But 00:04:31.04 --> 00:04:34.22 you know, in the last 10 years Bolivia make big things. 00:04:35.09 --> 00:04:38.24 [ Yuri ] You can’t thinking in Bolivia with a 00:04:39.00 --> 00:04:43.04 satellite in the space. We have one right now. 00:04:44.10 --> 00:04:49.11 [ Yuri ] You can’t thinking in Bolivia with a… with all 00:04:49.12 --> 00:04:54.14 kids in the school! We have this reality right now. 00:05:01.23 --> 00:05:03.05 [ Yuri ] Hi! 00:05:03.23 --> 00:05:06.15 [ Yuri ] What's that? [ Daniel ] Barley drink. 00:05:06.16 --> 00:05:08.22 [ Yuri ] How much? [ Daniel ] One boliviano. 00:05:08.23 --> 00:05:11.05 [ Yuri ] One boliviano? One please. 00:05:12.00 --> 00:05:13.15 [ Yuri ] Two, give me two. 00:05:14.03 --> 00:05:16.16 [ Yuri ] How old are you? [ DANIEL, 10, street vendor ] I'm 10. 00:05:16.20 --> 00:05:20.06 [ Yuri ] Ten! Where are your parents? [ Daniel ] Right there. 00:05:20.07 --> 00:05:21.17 [ Yuri ] Oh great. 00:05:30.08 --> 00:05:38.02 [ Yuri ] If some guy with 13-14 years try to selling you this …Maybe you don’t get. 00:05:38.02 --> 00:05:41.17 [ James ] No? It’s a bad idea? [ Yuri ] But if you see a child with 00:05:41.18 --> 00:05:45.06 10 years in the cold, you buy! You know? Did you understand? 00:05:45.07 --> 00:05:47.16 [ James ] Yeah, of course. 00:05:48.02 --> 00:05:50.04 [ Yuri ] What I try to say Because you want … 00:05:50.05 --> 00:05:52.20 because you think… it picks the feel that you want… 00:05:52.21 --> 00:05:57.24 [ Yuri ] Because you are sad. Yes, of course! This is a strategy! A Straaaategy! Sorry. 00:05:58.09 --> 00:06:01.19 [ James ] Exactly, yes, this is a strategy. So, you send the young little 00:06:01.19 --> 00:06:05.05 kid out and he, of course, looks the part and then you make more money. 00:06:05.12 --> 00:06:11.07 [ Yuri ] Of course. And the parents say: “Daniel can make more money, 00:06:11.08 --> 00:06:13.06 because it’s child”. 00:06:13.06 --> 00:06:15.22 [ James ] Yeah. This is a problem too. 00:06:24.10 --> 00:06:26.15 [ Yuri ] What's your name? [ RODRIGO, 9, street vendor ] Rodrigo. 00:06:26.16 --> 00:06:28.18 [ Yuri ] Rodrigo. How old are you? 00:06:29.23 --> 00:06:32.04 [ Rodrigo ] Nine. [ Yuri ] Are you his big sister? 00:06:32.05 --> 00:06:33.23 [ Melia ] Yes. [ Yuri ] How old are you? 00:06:33.24 --> 00:06:35.15 [ Melia ] Him? [ Yuri ] You! 00:06:35.23 --> 00:06:39.03 [ Melia ] 13 [ Yuri ] I see. What's your name? [ Melia ] Melia. 00:06:39.14 --> 00:06:43.21 [ Yuri ] You sell together? Always jelly drinks? [ Yuri ] Do you go to school? 00:06:44.03 --> 00:06:46.09 [ Yuri ] That's good! What year are you? 00:06:46.10 --> 00:06:49.14 [ Melia ] First year of secondary school. [ Yuri ] And you? 00:06:51.14 --> 00:06:55.22 [ Yuri ] Grade 5 primary school. Ok, stay in school. Don't drop out! 00:07:02.05 --> 00:07:06.03 [ Yuri ] Now in Bolivia we see the problem with new 00:07:06.03 --> 00:07:10.01 eyes. You know? We have a new law. It’s different. 00:07:10.02 --> 00:07:14.19 [ Yuri ] This is La Paz, this is not Geneva. They make the laws, the 00:07:14.19 --> 00:07:20.19 international laws in other places. But you need to see the reality here. 00:07:31.02 --> 00:07:32.16 Beer Pub, 11 p.m. 00:07:32.22 --> 00:07:35.05 [ Yuri ] How old are you? [ Lily ] Eleven. 00:07:35.06 --> 00:07:37.19 [ Yuri ] 11, what's your name? [ Lily ] Lily. 00:07:37.20 --> 00:07:42.03 [ Lily ] Lily. [ Yuri ] Lily. How long have you been a vendor? 00:07:42.16 --> 00:07:44.06 [ Lily ] Since I was six. 00:07:45.03 --> 00:07:46.13 [ Yuri ] From the six years. 00:07:46.13 --> 00:07:50.12 [ James ] Wow, already 5 years! And until what time does she work at night? 00:07:50.14 --> 00:07:52.10 [ Yuri ] Do you work at night? 00:07:52.18 --> 00:07:57.15 [ Lily ] I don't work nights. I only work from 6pm until midnight. 00:07:58.08 --> 00:08:01.21 [ Yuri ] From the six o’clock to the twelve o’clock, mainly. [ James ] O’key. 00:08:03.16 --> 00:08:05.16 [ James ] So, when you see that, how does that make you feel? 00:08:05.16 --> 00:08:08.24 [ Yuri ] Of course, I feel sad. I feel like… I don’t 00:08:09.00 --> 00:08:12.08 know the world, but in Spanish it is “impotencia”. 00:08:12.09 --> 00:08:14.14 [ James ] Ah, yeah, impotence! 00:08:14.15 --> 00:08:17.00 [ Yuri ] Impotence? [ James ] You want to help, but… 00:08:17.01 --> 00:08:19.19 [ Yuri ] Of course, of course… All people want to help. 00:08:23.01 --> 00:08:24.16 [ Eva ] You want sauce? 00:08:24.20 --> 00:08:25.24 [ James ] Yes. 00:08:26.13 --> 00:08:27.22 [ James ] Please. 00:08:32.14 --> 00:08:34.06 [ James ] Thank you very much. 00:08:34.24 --> 00:08:38.18 [ VO ] The reality in Bolivia is that the economy has improved in 00:08:38.18 --> 00:08:42.12 the last decade but that around 60% of people still live below 00:08:42.13 --> 00:08:46.05 the poverty line. They do what they have to survive. And for 00:08:46.06 --> 00:08:49.24 many children it means juggling school with a full time job. 00:08:57.17 --> 00:09:00.03 ARTICLE 129 OF BOLIVIA’S LAW 00:09:00.04 --> 00:09:02.00 NO. 548 STATES: In exceptional cases, the Ombudsman's Offices 00:09:02.00 --> 00:09:03.21 for Childhood and Adolescence may authorise self-employment 00:09:03.22 --> 00:09:05.18 by children or adolescents between the ages of 10 and 14 and 00:09:05.18 --> 00:09:07.14 regular employment for youths between 12 and 14 years old 00:09:14.10 --> 00:09:18.13 [ Nadia ] I'm Nadia Melody Almanza Quenaya, I'm 10 years old. 00:09:18.15 --> 00:09:22.20 [ Nadia ] My family is my mum, Eva, my dad, Rodrigo, 00:09:22.21 --> 00:09:26.17 my brothers Eldair and Jefferson, 00:09:26.21 --> 00:09:29.05 my grandma, Claudina, 00:09:29.06 --> 00:09:31.01 and my uncles. 00:09:36.11 --> 00:09:38.21 NADIA 00:09:39.23 --> 00:09:41.22 [ Eva ] Do you have the hairpin? 00:09:50.13 --> 00:09:53.12 [ VO ] Nadia lives in the suburbs of La Paz. Life 00:09:53.13 --> 00:09:56.20 is a daily struggle for her parents who can’t make 00:09:56.21 --> 00:09:59.16 ends meet on the little they earn. She’s been 00:09:59.17 --> 00:10:03.04 contributing to the family budget for over two years. 00:10:11.16 --> 00:10:16.12 [ NADIA, 10, market vendor ] I help my mum to sell things. 00:10:16.13 --> 00:10:20.19 [ Nadia ] After school I have lunch, then come here to help Mum. 00:10:22.23 --> 00:10:27.12 [ Nadia ] I help my mum to sell noodles and eggs. 00:10:33.13 --> 00:10:39.01 [ Nadia ] My father has to get up very early in the morning. 00:10:39.02 --> 00:10:41.23 [ Nadia ] He takes a bus to work. 00:10:42.11 --> 00:10:46.16 [ Nadia ] Dad works a lot, Mum too. 00:10:46.23 --> 00:10:48.17 [ Nadia ] I love them very much. 00:10:50.09 --> 00:10:52.05 [ Nadia ] It's all ready, Mummy. 00:10:52.11 --> 00:10:54.00 [ Eva ] Do up your fly! 00:11:02.23 --> 00:11:07.02 [ Eva ] Her father helps, of course, but he drinks. 00:11:07.03 --> 00:11:09.03 [ Eva ] He works for two weeks 00:11:09.04 --> 00:11:11.17 and then drinks it all away. 00:11:12.02 --> 00:11:14.21 [ Eva ] But I have to pay interest to the bank. 00:11:15.08 --> 00:11:21.18 [ Eva ] So it's mostly me who provides for the children. 00:11:24.05 --> 00:11:25.24 [ Eva ] All I can do... 00:11:26.00 --> 00:11:28.14 is to work as a vendor, 00:11:29.06 --> 00:11:31.24 to help my children 00:11:32.22 --> 00:11:35.24 so they can study and live better than me. 00:11:36.00 --> 00:11:38.04 [ Eva ] It's hard and painful for me 00:11:38.06 --> 00:11:43.16 because I can't help them, as I didn't get an education myself. 00:11:43.21 --> 00:11:49.22 [ Eva ] I didn't go to school because I worked day in and day out. 00:11:50.17 --> 00:11:54.09 [ Eva ] Nadia helps me sell eggs. 00:11:55.02 --> 00:12:00.05 [ Eva ] But she doesn't have any time left to do her homework... no time! 00:12:00.12 --> 00:12:05.17 [ Eva ] The teacher says she's not making progress and should study more. 00:12:05.18 --> 00:12:07.13 [ EVA, mother of 3 ] Nadia often says, 00:12:07.14 --> 00:12:14.17 [ Eva ] 'I'm tired because I need to work as a market vendor and study at the same time, 00:12:14.18 --> 00:12:17.05 and I have to help you.' 00:12:18.12 --> 00:12:24.01 [ Eva ] If I had more money Nadia wouldn't have to work as a market vendor. 00:12:24.11 --> 00:12:30.20 [ Eva ] But we don't have enough money, so she has to help me. 00:12:36.13 --> 00:12:38.22 [ Nadia ] My classmates all work too. 00:12:39.09 --> 00:12:43.18 [ Nadia ] Some of them help their mums sell sweets, 00:12:43.19 --> 00:12:49.22 fruit, chocolate, drinks and so on. 00:12:49.23 --> 00:12:52.04 [ Nadia ] I work and help my mum, 00:12:52.05 --> 00:12:55.13 because I'll always help her, 00:12:55.14 --> 00:13:01.22 until the end of her days... 00:13:08.05 --> 00:13:12.11 [ VO ] Nadia has big dreams but those dreams require a good education. 00:13:12.19 --> 00:13:14.21 [ James ] And what do you want to be when you grow up? 00:13:15.10 --> 00:13:16.17 [ Nadia ] A lawyer. 00:13:17.08 --> 00:13:19.06 [ James ] Why do you want to be a lawyer? 00:13:19.23 --> 00:13:24.10 [ Nadia ] Many people are accused unfairly. 00:13:24.11 --> 00:13:29.14 [ Nadia ] Some accuse others because they think they're stealing things. 00:13:29.15 --> 00:13:34.19 [ Nadia ] That's why I want to defend people who've done nothing wrong 00:13:34.20 --> 00:13:37.09 and prosecute those who have. 00:13:48.17 --> 00:13:50.16 GUIDO 00:13:50.21 --> 00:13:53.09 [ Guido ] I was working 3 hours a day 00:13:53.19 --> 00:13:57.23 but recently it's only been two because of my training. 00:13:58.14 --> 00:14:01.03 [ Guido ] I started working when I was 11. 00:14:01.04 --> 00:14:03.09 [ Guido ] First, with my cousins, 00:14:03.10 --> 00:14:05.12 then I worked more 00:14:06.01 --> 00:14:08.08 with my brother 00:14:08.18 --> 00:14:10.24 but he soon quit. 00:14:11.18 --> 00:14:13.17 [ Guido ] My dad died 11 years ago. 00:14:14.02 --> 00:14:16.20 [ Guido ] There are many of us in the family, 00:14:16.24 --> 00:14:20.15 so Mum couldn't cope with it all on her own. 00:14:20.17 --> 00:14:23.07 [ Guido ] I started working to help Mum 00:14:23.08 --> 00:14:27.19 and to pay for my education. 00:14:28.24 --> 00:14:33.04 [ VO ] Guido is one of 8 brothers and sisters being raised by a widowed mother. The 00:14:33.05 --> 00:14:35.15 children’s code has meant he has been able to 00:14:35.16 --> 00:14:38.02 find work as a cleaner in the local cemetery 00:14:38.10 --> 00:14:41.11 [ Guido ] I don't know why I decided to work here. 00:14:41.13 --> 00:14:46.16 [ Guido ] Probably because I wanted to be near Dad and tend his grave. 00:14:47.07 --> 00:14:51.11 [ Guido ] I didn't want to work elsewhere because it was dangerous 00:14:51.12 --> 00:14:53.14 and I was too young anyway. 00:14:59.08 --> 00:15:01.19 [ Guido ] I'm responsible for this area. 00:15:23.09 --> 00:15:27.00 [ Man ] Treat this one and the next. [ Guido ] OK, got it! 00:15:27.01 --> 00:15:29.00 [ Man ] Good. See you. 00:15:34.03 --> 00:15:36.11 [ Guido ] I use shoe polish on my hands 00:15:37.00 --> 00:15:40.24 because cleaning with battery fluid is hazardous. 00:15:41.20 --> 00:15:47.00 [ Guido ] You could burn your hands and clothes. 00:15:48.01 --> 00:15:51.22 [ Guido ] The polish works as good hand protection 00:15:51.23 --> 00:15:54.11 and it helps prevent burns. 00:15:55.13 --> 00:15:57.16 [ Guido ] I have some sores here. 00:15:58.21 --> 00:16:00.01 [ James ] Can we see? 00:16:02.18 --> 00:16:05.19 [ James ] Yeah, also here. And other side? 00:16:09.08 --> 00:16:13.11 [ Guido ] I think the chemicals in the polish do this to my nails. 00:16:13.12 --> 00:16:16.04 [ Guido ] When I use this stuff a lot 00:16:16.10 --> 00:16:23.15 my nails start breaking and then fall off. 00:16:29.22 --> 00:16:33.04 [ Guido ] My work doesn't leave me much time to study. 00:16:33.05 --> 00:16:36.09 [ Guido ] When I have a lot of homework, 00:16:36.11 --> 00:16:40.06 [ Guido ] I don't have enough time for that or work. 00:16:41.00 --> 00:16:45.23 [ Guido ] Sometimes I do homework late at night until I finish it all. 00:16:46.20 --> 00:16:49.13 [ Guido ] When I have lots to do, 00:16:49.14 --> 00:16:52.01 [ Guido ] I don't do it at all. 00:16:53.05 --> 00:16:56.12 [ Guido ] In the future, I'd like to study medicine, 00:16:56.13 --> 00:16:58.21 or maybe become a detective. 00:17:00.02 --> 00:17:04.17 [ Guido ] I'd love to study more but unfortunately work gets in the way. 00:17:04.18 --> 00:17:06.24 [ Guido ] But regardless of that, 00:17:07.00 --> 00:17:11.02 [ Guido ] I'm ready to study and work at the same time to help my mum. 00:17:21.17 --> 00:17:24.07 [ Man ] Your abs! Work your abs! 00:17:25.23 --> 00:17:27.17 [ Man ] Work your abs! 00:17:28.22 --> 00:17:33.16 [ Guido ] When I feel low and I'm sleepy, I rest. 00:17:33.23 --> 00:17:36.09 [ Guido ] I'm still a child after all. 00:17:36.15 --> 00:17:40.05 [ Guido ] Usually, I don't get tired, 00:17:40.07 --> 00:17:44.10 so I manage to study and help my mum. 00:18:02.15 --> 00:18:07.01 [ VO ] For Guido and Nadia, the Сhildren’s Сode has meant they can legally 00:18:07.01 --> 00:18:11.20 earn the extra money they badly need. She can help her mother in the market 00:18:11.21 --> 00:18:16.18 and his job at the cemetery wouldn’t exist without it. But there are hundreds 00:18:16.18 --> 00:18:21.12 of thousands of children in Bolivia operating completely outside the law. 00:18:31.03 --> 00:18:33.24 [ James ] It’s really like something out of a movie. I get the feeling like I’m in 00:18:33.24 --> 00:18:36.21 a some sort of Wild West goldmine. These old wooden poles holding everything up. 00:18:49.10 --> 00:18:54.18 [ James ] Oh wow, I’m not built for spaces like this, definitely not! 00:18:55.11 --> 00:18:56.18 [ James ] Is it ok? 00:18:59.14 --> 00:19:01.09 [ Miner ] Step here. 00:19:04.22 --> 00:19:08.07 ARTICLE 126 OF BOLIVIA’S LAW NO. 548 STATES: Children and adolescents have 00:19:08.07 --> 00:19:11.17 the right to be protected by the state, by their families and by society, 00:19:11.18 --> 00:19:13.23 especially against any occupation or work that 00:19:13.23 --> 00:19:16.03 might hinder their education, present a danger, 00:19:16.03 --> 00:19:18.07 pose hazards to their health or be detrimental 00:19:18.08 --> 00:19:20.10 to their dignity and integral development. 00:19:29.22 --> 00:19:34.03 [ Wilfredo ] My first impression was that I couldn't breathe. 00:19:34.14 --> 00:19:38.01 [ Wilfredo ] I didn't expect that and got a bit frightened. 00:19:38.02 --> 00:19:39.23 [ Wilfredo ] You need to be careful. 00:19:39.24 --> 00:19:41.20 [ Wilfredo ] All the work is manual. 00:19:41.21 --> 00:19:44.20 [ Wilfredo ] You need to know how to use the tools, 00:19:45.08 --> 00:19:47.13 how to handle them properly. 00:19:47.14 --> 00:19:49.12 [ Wilfredo ] You need to be strong. 00:19:50.08 --> 00:19:54.04 [ VO ] Wilfredo and his brother have been working in these mines since 00:19:54.04 --> 00:19:58.10 they were 10 years old. If they stay here, it’s unlikely they’ll see 40. 00:19:58.24 --> 00:20:04.12 [ James ] Mining work’s hard enough normally but here with the lack of oxygen and 00:20:04.13 --> 00:20:10.02 just hand tools I have no idea how these kids do it. None at all. Day in day out… 00:20:12.04 --> 00:20:14.09 [ James ] Sorry Willy… 00:20:16.09 --> 00:20:21.05 [ VO ] Everything Wilfredo and Richard are doing here is completely illegal. 00:20:21.06 --> 00:20:26.18 Mining work is strictly forbidden by the children’s code but it’s never enforced. 00:20:26.24 --> 00:20:30.03 [ Miner ] Easy does it! Slowly! 00:20:39.09 --> 00:20:41.23 [ James ] You have to be thin 00:20:49.09 --> 00:20:50.21 [ James ] You are acrobat 00:20:52.23 --> 00:20:54.05 [ James ] That’s insane. Oh that’s mad. 00:20:55.22 --> 00:20:59.00 [ Miner ] All ok? [ James ] Yes, it's fine. 00:20:59.24 --> 00:21:01.14 [ James ] Let’s go out. 00:21:13.05 --> 00:21:15.00 [ Lucia ] When they go to the mine, 00:21:15.01 --> 00:21:17.17 [ Lucia ] I often cry because it's dangerous. 00:21:17.19 --> 00:21:20.05 [ LUCIA, mother of 6 ] But where else can we earn money? 00:21:20.07 --> 00:21:23.02 [ Lucia ] That's why my kids have to be miners. 00:21:24.01 --> 00:21:26.15 [ Lucia ] I don't want them to work there. 00:21:26.16 --> 00:21:29.12 [ Lucia ] If I had money, I'd move to the city, 00:21:29.14 --> 00:21:34.13 so my kids wouldn't have to work in that dangerous mine. 00:21:36.02 --> 00:21:38.23 [ VO ] The Children’s code should protect Wilfredo and 00:21:38.24 --> 00:21:41.20 his brothers but up here it seems it doesn’t apply. 00:21:42.05 --> 00:21:47.10 CERRO RICO MOUNTAIN BOLIVIA 4500 M ABOVE SEA LEVEL 00:21:47.21 --> 00:21:50.16 [ VO ] Don Nico is a former child miner and activist 00:21:50.16 --> 00:21:53.12 who tries to look after the families on Cerro Rico. 00:21:53.21 --> 00:21:58.14 [ Nicolas Marin, Ngo Voix Libres ] Of course, there are laws but nobody abides by them. 00:21:59.23 --> 00:22:04.05 [ Don Nico ] They say they know about the mountain people's problems. 00:22:04.24 --> 00:22:09.01 3 or 4 months ago, people from the Labour Ministry came. 00:22:09.19 --> 00:22:14.09 [ Don Nico ] They said they would do this and that, but it's all idle talk. 00:22:14.10 --> 00:22:18.00 [ Don Nico ] They sit in their offices instead of coming here 00:22:18.01 --> 00:22:22.09 to see how many kids are working and how their families live. 00:22:22.22 --> 00:22:27.14 [ Don Nico ] The former regional ombudsman promised to earmark extra money 00:22:27.15 --> 00:22:30.22 for raising salaries and social guarantees, 00:22:30.23 --> 00:22:32.13 it was all just talk. 00:22:32.15 --> 00:22:35.03 [ Don Nico ] All these promises were broken. 00:22:35.06 --> 00:22:37.23 [ Don Nico ] We live the same way we lived before: 00:22:37.24 --> 00:22:40.19 man against man, child against child. 00:22:40.20 --> 00:22:43.20 [ Don Nico ] We have our own, separate world here. 00:22:43.21 --> 00:22:46.14 [ Don Nico ] Robbery and violence continues. 00:22:46.22 --> 00:22:50.09 [ Don Nico ] So many bad things happen to the locals. 00:22:52.11 --> 00:22:56.10 [ Lucia ] If you meet a robber and you're alone, he may kill you. 00:22:56.11 --> 00:23:01.02 [ Lucia ] Sometimes I go out alone but more often with Raul and Jose. 00:23:01.03 --> 00:23:03.21 [ Lucia ] A robber could mug or even kill me. 00:23:04.18 --> 00:23:09.02 [ Lucia ] I have 4 sons and a daughter Claudia here, 00:23:09.03 --> 00:23:11.19 we all live together. 00:23:11.24 --> 00:23:17.04 [ Lucia ] When robbers come, they stay away from my house 00:23:17.05 --> 00:23:20.13 because I have vicious dogs. 00:23:21.22 --> 00:23:24.23 [ VO ] Lucia is responsible for the safety of equipment here. She 00:23:24.24 --> 00:23:28.07 simply can’t afford for thieves to get anywhere near it and that’s 00:23:28.07 --> 00:23:31.06 why she always has a supply of dynamite nearby. It’s a very 00:23:31.06 --> 00:23:34.18 effective way of warning them off. Or worse, if they get too close. 00:23:37.14 --> 00:23:39.04 [ Lucia ] This will explode! 00:23:40.07 --> 00:23:44.01 [ Lucia ] Boom! Over there... I'll go and plant it there. 00:23:44.13 --> 00:23:47.06 [ VO ] If any equipment is stolen Lucia has to pay for 00:23:47.06 --> 00:23:49.24 it. She doesn’t mess around when it comes to thieves. 00:23:51.13 --> 00:23:53.05 [ Lucia ] Let's go! Go! 00:23:53.14 --> 00:23:54.14 [ James ] Go, Go, Go. 00:23:57.13 --> 00:23:58.17 [ James ] Run, run, run! 00:24:04.20 --> 00:24:05.24 [ Lucia ] Wow! 00:24:06.22 --> 00:24:09.04 [ Lucia ] Look, I blew it up! 00:24:11.09 --> 00:24:15.05 [ Don Nico ] At times it's very hard to work here. 00:24:16.04 --> 00:24:19.01 [ Don Nico ] Accidents are always happening here. 00:24:19.03 --> 00:24:20.09 [ Don Nico ] People die. 00:24:20.10 --> 00:24:24.24 [ Don Nico ] It's just horrible in these mountains for kids. 00:24:25.06 --> 00:24:30.13 [ James ] Kids too? [ Don Nico ] Dust from tipper trucks affects children. 00:24:30.15 --> 00:24:33.17 [ Don Nico ] They breathe it in of course 00:24:33.18 --> 00:24:36.11 because they live here. 00:24:37.07 --> 00:24:40.15 [ Don Nico ] The miners get ill because of the dust, 00:24:40.16 --> 00:24:43.20 malnutrition and everything else. 00:24:44.06 --> 00:24:47.13 [ Don Nico ] They have nothing here. 00:24:47.19 --> 00:24:50.20 [ Don Nico ] The air and everything is very dirty. 00:24:54.13 --> 00:24:56.21 [ Don Nico ] I know these mountains well. 00:24:56.22 --> 00:24:59.10 [ Don Nico ] I've worked here for many years. 00:24:59.12 --> 00:25:03.14 [ Don Nico ] I'm ok now but I've been through great pain. 00:25:03.15 --> 00:25:08.05 [ Don Nico ] It's painful for me to leave these families, these children... 00:25:08.07 --> 00:25:12.19 [ Don Nico ] Sometimes it's distressing because I used to live as they do. 00:25:12.21 --> 00:25:15.17 [ Don Nico ] I always think of them. I'm with them. 00:25:15.18 --> 00:25:19.20 [ Don Nico ] I'll continue my work despite the pain I feel. 00:25:19.23 --> 00:25:26.07 [ Don Nico ] I'll work for the sake of these children, these families... 00:25:26.08 --> 00:25:30.03 [ Don Nico ] It's my life's work to give them what I can. 00:25:30.10 --> 00:25:32.17 [ Don Nico ] I'm always thinking of them 00:25:32.22 --> 00:25:37.04 because I don't want them to suffer. 00:25:37.05 --> 00:25:39.07 [ Don Nico ] We want to help them all... 00:25:39.08 --> 00:25:41.22 [ Don Nico ] For the wellbeing of all. 00:25:41.24 --> 00:25:44.06 [ Don Nico ] I went through all this myself. 00:25:44.08 --> 00:25:47.03 [ Don Nico ] I can't anymore. 00:25:48.07 --> 00:25:49.13 [ James ] It’s Okey, it’s Okey. It’s Okey. 00:25:51.03 --> 00:25:54.06 [ James ] You speak very well. It’s Okey 00:25:56.00 --> 00:25:57.06 [ James ] Thank you very much. 00:25:58.20 --> 00:26:02.14 [ VO ] Sources in the Bolivian government insist the children’s code 00:26:02.14 --> 00:26:06.15 is working, that overall numbers of workers are down and that illegal 00:26:06.16 --> 00:26:10.17 child labourers have almost halved since 2008. They say that tackling 00:26:10.18 --> 00:26:14.19 dangerous work is now a top policy priority. But they haven’t offered 00:26:14.20 --> 00:26:18.17 the people of Cerro RICO an alternative. And that means the schoolboy 00:26:18.18 --> 00:26:22.16 miners here continue risking their lives for the money they need to 00:26:22.16 --> 00:26:26.18 survive. They still believe they’ll get more help from Tio Jorge, the 00:26:26.18 --> 00:26:30.20 thirsty devil of the pits, than they will do from their own lawmakers.