Empowering Child Domestic Workers in Peru

This is a 5 year project funded by Comic Relief. It has been developed from direct experiences and lesson learning from collaborative work between AGTR and Anti-Slavery International over the past 10 years. AGTR is the lead implementing organisation in Peru with day-to-day responsibility for in-country co-ordination and delivery. Recognising that the elimination of child domestic work (and the necessity for it) is a very long-term goal, the specific objectives of the project are to reduce the vulnerability of CDWs to abuse and exploitation and remove the negative impacts that domestic work has on the emotional and physical well-being of children, on their personal development and on their educational achievement and future life chances. The programme supports children in domestic work to feel confident to claim their rights and improve their situation by providing direct services as well as mentoring them in asking for that change. The project also seeks to achieve a fundamental shift in the perception of child domestic work within society, at all levels, from policy-makers to duty bearers, employers, the families of CDWs and the public at large. By the end of the project, all beneficiaries will have improved self-esteem and confidence, enabling them to play an active role in improving their lives and diminishing the abuse they often are victims of. The project also supports new beneficiaries: live-in CDWs and CDWs outside of Lima. Finally, the project is enabling AGTR to replicate its model of intervention with new groups and organisations.