Brasília, 1 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The International Labor Organization (ILO) has released a study on Employment of Children and Adolescents in Drug Trafficking in the city of Rio de Janeiro. According to the ILO director for Brazil, Armand Pereira, the objective is to resolve the problem of minors in drug trafficking. The ILO study is one of a series of 38 such studies on the worse types of child labor in 19 countries.

According to Pedro Americo Oliveira, of the Institute of Studies, Labor and Society, the Brazilian social safety net could be a way to resolve the problem. Oliveira added that the government has efficient social programs, such as the School Scholarship program, but that youngsters also need sports and culture. "Other important factors in getting minors away from drug trafficking is family support, psychological and medical assistance, information on drugs from the media and the family, along with police repression of drugs as they enter the country." (AB)