Greater public awareness needed to stem child slavery – Vatican News

Consumers’ Awareness and Behavior Key in Fighting Child Slavery

Christoph Lehermayr of “Missio Austria” says consumers’ awareness and behaviour in developed countries are the first steps in fighting the scourge of child slavery and labour that affects millions of children across the world. In an interview with Vatican News marking the International Day Against Child Slavery, Lehermayr speaks of the work carried out by Church organizations to free children from bonded labour.

Introduction

April 16 is the International Day Against Child Slavery promoted by the Christian Cultural Movement (Movimiento Cultural Cristiano -MCC), a Spanish-based Catholic lay organization engaged in social justice and human rights advocacy.

Iqbal Masih

The inspiration behind this annual observance is 12-year-old Pakistani Christian slave, Iqbal Masih, who was murdered on April 16, 1995, for exposing the ‘carpet mafia’ that thrived on child slaves.

Iqbal, who had been a victim of slavery in the carpet industry in Punjab for six years, had helped over 3,000 Pakistani children escape their bonded slavery and made speeches about child labour throughout the world. His activism brought him international recognition.

In 1994 he received the Reebok Youth in Action Award. He inspired the creation of organizations such as “Free the Children”, in Canada, and the Iqbal Masih Shaheed Children Foundation, which has over 20 schools in Pakistan. He was awarded the “World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child” posthumously in 2000. The United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labour Affairs (ILAB) has the annual “Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labour”.

Since his murder, the Christian Cultural Movement has been campaigning against child slavery worldwide, emphasizing that this form of exploitation is different from child labour, as in this case children are forced to work to pay off a family debt and have no way to leave the person exploiting them. Though child labour is not necessarily slavery, it hinders children’s education and development, and in its worst forms it includes “hazardous work” endangering their health and lives.

At least 160 million children forced into labour

Poverty is of course the main driver of the different forms of child labour which affects at least 160 million children globally. Labour exploitation, malnutrition and ill-treatment are the daily bread and butter for millions of children around the world, especially in the Global South.

Church organizations’ efforts to end child labour and slavery

In the interview with Christine Seuss, he spoke about the Church’s efforts and initiatives to free children from slavery, which include primarily offering their families an alternative source of income so their children can go to school rather than work. “Parents – he explained – are often forced to make their children work, but if they have an alternative income, they are prepared to send their children to school to get an education.”

Mr Lehermayr cited, amongst others, the example of the Good Shepherd Sisters in the Democratic Republic of Congo where they have founded over seven schools for children who used to work in the cobalt mines. Again, he insisted, it is important to provide alternative sources of income for their families “Christian communities are very active in doing this”, he said.

Promoting public awareness and monitoring global supply chains

Mr Lehermayr also remarked on the need to act on the consumer’s side to stem child labour and slavery, making the public in developed nations aware of the problem: “When we buy a T-shirt for 3 Euro, we should ask ourselves where it comes from.”

Furthermore, he said, organizations working on the ground on this issue, including Christian organizations, must also be supported to help identify and mitigate child labour risks in global supply chains.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education.
   • Indicator: Number of children engaged in child labor or bonded labor who are enrolled in formal education or vocational training programs.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor.
   • Indicator: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age.

3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.6: Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.
   • Indicator: Number of companies that have adopted sustainable practices and integrated sustainability information into their reporting cycle.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are:

• Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education.
• Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor.
• Target 12.6: Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Indicator: Number of children engaged in child labor or bonded labor who are enrolled in formal education or vocational training programs (related to Target 4.1).
• Indicator: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age (related to Target 8.7).
• Indicator: Number of companies that have adopted sustainable practices and integrated sustainability information into their reporting cycle (related to Target 12.6).

The article mentions the importance of providing alternative sources of income for families to send their children to school (Target 4.1). It also highlights the need to act on the consumer’s side to stem child labor and slavery (Target 8.7) and support organizations working on the ground to identify and mitigate child labor risks in global supply chains (Target 12.6).

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: vaticannews.va

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