Filipino lauded (by US Dept. of Labor) for fight vs child labor

[Omaha Steve]

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20090119-184241/Filipino-lauded-for-fight-vs-child-labor

By Erwin Oliva
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 12:54:00 01/19/2009

Filed Under: Awards and Prizes, Children, Labor

MANILA, Philippines -- Maria Cecilia Flores-Oebanda has been awarded the first Iqbal Masih award for her work towards the elimination of exploitative child labor, according to the United States Department of Labor.

Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Charlotte M. Ponticelli said the US agency was giving this award to acknowledge Flores-Oebanda’s lifetime battle against the use of child domestic workers and the trafficking of women and children for domestic servitude and commercial sexual exploitation in the Philippines and internationally.

Flores-Oebanda is currently the president and executive director of the Visayan Forum Foundation Inc. (VFF) in Quezon City.

"This award recognizes a true champion in the fight to end exploitive child labor," said Ponticelli in a statement. "Through her work, Ms. Flores-Oebanda has brought real change to the lives of thousands of children."

The Iqbal Masih Award was established by the US Congress to recognize the work of an individual, company, organization or national government to end the worst forms of child labor.

The award reflects the spirit of Iqbal Masih, a Pakistani child enslaved at the age of four who escaped his servitude and became an outspoken advocate against child slavery, the statement said.

FULL story at link.