CyberDodo fights against child labour (2-25)

Child slaves 2/2

In the episode related to this information file, CyberDodo saves some children whose very lives are in peril as they work in a mine. This situation does in fact exist, whereby people completey without moral compunction or a conscience use children to carry out dangerous, even degrading work, such work ultimately traumatising the children both physically and psychologically.

The children work full-time (often more than 12 hours per day), receiving no real salary but often in exchange for food of inadequate nutritional quality and unsanitary lodging. They are unable to go to school, are separated from their families and their health steadily declines.

Examples of fields in which such abuse has been observed :

- Work in mines
- Carpet weaving
- Construction
- Goldsmiths and silversmiths.
- Agriculture
- Domestic work
- Child soldiers (See the information file and episode)

It would be impossible to not mention the situation of child prostitution, in which millions of minors are engaged. (See the information file and episode)

What are the solutions ?

As indicated at the beginning of this file, poverty is the main reason for chidl labour and the eradication thereof is therefore an integral part of any solution to the reality of child labour.

Simply put, it would be enough if States respected the formal obligations which they undertook in signing the International Convention on the Rights of the Child. However, unfortunately, it seems that simplicity and respect are paths not often followed in this regard.

Following are some specific measures which must be implemented everywhere and by everyone (click on the lines in order to see the corresponding files and episodes) :

Immediate prohibition of all forms of dangerous work
Free and compulsory schooling
Free and mandatory social protections
State registration of all births
Prohibition on all forms of commerce with countries in which child labour exists
National and international control mechanisms
Global information accessible to children and families (www.CyberDodo.com was created for this purpose)

Our societies must protect all children from all forms of dangerous work. International solidarity must intervene and come to bear on the severe disparities which exist between the situation of privileged children living in rich countries and young workers, even slaves, engaged in labour in the world's poorer countries.

Human dignity is not a matter of skin colour, race, nationality, sex or social status.

All children are entitled to benefit from all of their rights.

To see the cartoon on dangerous work, click here

To see the quiz, click here

To see the game on dangerous work, click here

This information file is dedicated to Iqbal Masih and all child slaves .. so that their suffering is never forgotten, and that it be the last of its kind for all time !

© CyberDodo Productions