November 2, 2018
Around 150 million children from the ages of five to seventeen are currently in child labour. 73 million of those children work in hazardous jobs.
Needless to say, child labour is still a pertinent issue in our world today, and yet it is easy to ignore or even forget about this violation of human and working rights when it is not immediately visible to us. Although child labour does not frequently occur in the United Kingdom, some of our imports may have been sourced from companies who employ children in their factories and plantations.
Child labour is still a pertinent issue in our world today.
With endless technology and social media at our fingertips, what’s being done to prevent it?
Stop the Traffik
Considering 70 per cent of children in child labour work in the agricultural sector, it is especially important to check that your food is coming from ethical sources. Charity and NGO Stop The Traffik aims to do exactly that. By checking your food labels for verification of an official source, you can prevent purchasing products from companies that support child labour. But why is this important?
Let’s take the cocoa industry. It is estimated that 2.1 million children work on cocoa plantations in West Africa. Stop The Traffik suggests checking the certification of your chocolate – something as simple as this makes sure that your chocolate is ethically sourced and made. Furthermore, their Six Chocolates campaign measures the steps that the five biggest chocolate companies are taking to ensure the most ethical production of their chocolate.
If you suspect anyone being trafficked, or being forced into labour, Stop The Traffik also has a handy reporting system. Either file a report on their website, or use their app, the STOP App. Stop The Traffik also includes victims of forced marriage, criminality, domestic servitude and sexual exploitation – not just child labour.
List of Goods Produced by Child Labour or Forced Labour
If you’re still unsure about whether your produce comes from ethical sources, look no further than the List of Goods Produced by Child Labour or Forced Labour. Compiled annually by the American Government, this report aims to make consumers aware of the various goods that have been produced in 76 countries. This ensures a more global application of the data. Even better, the list also includes non-agricultural goods such as soap and garments, which are often manufactured by factories employing children.
The list, however, is quite long. In order to combat this, you can download the Sweat & Toil App – this list compiles all of the data from the report in a much more digestible manner whilst still helping you become more informed!
12 June – World Day Against Child Labour
This year, World Day Against Child Labour is promoting the campaign “Generation Safe and Healthy“, working to ensure safe working rights for all labourers as well as to end hazardous working situations for children and ensure their right to good health and education.
Your involvement encourages other countries to disengage with companies that practise child labour, and helps to spread awareness of an issue that impacts all of us as global citizens.
You can participate in World Day Against Child Labour on June 12 by using #GenerationSafe&Healthy and tweeting local representatives or other politicians to encourage the abolishment of child labour practises in companies. Your involvement encourages other countries to disengage with companies that practise child labour, and helps to spread awareness of an issue that impacts all of us as global citizens.
– Alex Rigotti
Image from flickr.com
Durham University Model United Nations 