Abstract
The International Labor Organization (ILO) classifies child domestic labor as a “worst form of child labor” for a very good reason. Driven by dire poverty and lack of access to education, children are sent away from their homes, often moving to large and unfamiliar cities to work for wealthier families. Morocco has one of the worst child domestic labor problems in Northern Africa with an ILO estimated 66,000-88,000 children between the ages of 7 and 15, 70% of whom are under age 12, working in Morocco today (Rinehart 2007). Many of these child laborers are young girls working as maids, or petities bonnes as they are known in Morocco. These girls are extremely vulnerable to physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Petites bonnes work over 12 hours per day, are forbidden from attending school and perform dangerous work. They have little recourse to legal and social programs to assist them.
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
All Rights Reserved.
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Recommended Citation
Miller, Joanna
(2010)
"The Abuse of Child Domestic Workers: Petites Bonnes in Morocco,"
Human Rights & Human Welfare: Vol. 10:
Iss.
1, Article 25.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/hrhw/vol10/iss1/25
Included in
African Studies Commons, Human Rights Law Commons, International Humanitarian Law Commons, International Law Commons, International Relations Commons, Social Policy Commons