Children risk their lives in the Philippines's gold mines

Philippines canoe
A narrow boat used to travel to a compressor mining site in the Philippines. © 2015 Juliane Kippenberg/Human Rights Watch
Mercury-contaminated water
Mercury-contaminated water flows into the Bosigon River in Malaya, Camarines Norte.   © 2014 Mark Z. Saludes for Human Rights Watch
Peter
“Peter,” 11, works at an underwater mining site in Santa Milagrosa, Jose Panganiban.     © 2015 Mark Z. Saludes for Human Rights Watch
Peter, 11 years old
“Peter,” 11, works at an underwater mining site in Santa Milagrosa, Jose Panganiban.    © 2015 Mark Z. Saludes for Human Rights Watch
A boy and his father shovel ore
A boy and his father shovel ore from the Bosigon River in Malaya, Camarines Norte.    © 2015 Mark Z. Saludes for Human Rights Watch
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Children pan for gold along the Bosigon River in Malaya, Camarines Norte. © 2015 Mark Z. Saludes for Human Rights Watch
Mercury is mixed with gold ore.
Mercury is mixed with gold ore.      © 2015 Mark Z. Saludes for Human Rights Watch
An adult miner
An adult miner gets ready to mine underwater in Santa Milagrosa, Jose Panganiban.    © 2014 Mark Z. Saludes for Human Rights Watch
An underground mine in Malaya
An underground mine in Malaya, Camarines Norte.  © 2014 Mark Z. Saludes for Human Rights Watch
miner emerges from an underground pit
A miner emerges from an underground pit after hours of work.     © 2015 Mark Z. Saludes for Human Rights Watch
Mine workers operate ball mills
Mine workers operate ball mills in Malaya, Camarines Norte, with mercury-contaminated water flowing down by the sides.    © 2014 Mark Z. Saludes for Human Rights Watch
Emerita Pernicita
Emerita Pernicita shows a picture of her 17-year-old son, Nel, who died in an underground pit with his adult brother in Malaya, Camarines Norte.   © 2015 Mark Z. Saludes for Human Rights Watch

In the Philippines, thousands of children risk illness and injury as they dive for gold in illegal small-scale gold mines.

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