World Day Against Child Labor, June 12

 

Each year on June 12 is the World Day Against Child Labour set by The International Labour Organization (ILO). Some 218 million children throughout the world are involved in work that deprives them from receiving adequate education, health, leisure and basic freedoms, violating this way their rights. Of these children, more than half are exposed to the worst forms of child labour. These worst forms of child labour include work in hazardous environments, slavery, or other forms of forced labour, illicit activities such as drug trafficking and prostitution.

 

From 2002, International Labor Organization (ILO) set every June 12 as a World Day Against Child and spreading the children's reality. So, many various campaigns are held all around the world. Every year, about 22,000 children die from child labor and it occurs in 76 countries. They are paid about 3,600 won for 24 hours per a week, and the children who are exploited for child labor are 218,000,000, four times than Korean population.

 

Around the world, a large numbers of children are engaged in paid or unpaid domestic work in the home of a third party or employer. These children can be particularly vulnerable to exploitation. Most of the children are engaged in work requiring physical work for a long time, and if the farm work takes place in the harsh heat and cold, they get huge burdens on the bodies. Also, they are exposed to pesticides and toxic chemicals such as pesticides.

 

It is not possible for the children who have to work everyday to think of the opportunity to study, liberty and even break time.

What waits for the children is the labor which has no freedom and which is like slaves. Child labor is not only children's own problem or their family problem, but also entirely social problem and further, whole world's problem. Children who live in the world that forces them to do the labors spend their lives day by day losing their precious things. What can we do for these children who leave in hard and miserable circumstance?

 

    

There is a fair trade movement for the little practice. Fair trade movement is a society movement that is organized for the model which is based on paying the fair price related to producing the product. To support producer's livelihood, the products are purchased directly at a fair price and it protects the environment. It was started in Holland in 1988 and the movement organizations gathered from all around the world launched the Fair trade Labelling Organizations (FLO) in 1997.

 

Fair trade product producers are following the standards about child labor human rights, and managing not to be infringed on children's welfare, safety and the required terms about education. If you use the fair trade product, you can help their basic human rights and welfares.

    

When I think about the children who collect scrap irons from a trash heap and carry the heavy burdens during a whole day without any break time, and harvest coffee beans and cacao under the blazing sun even now, my heart is broken. We wish for the world that never has the children be exploited, and think about the helpful practical way for them, and today, hope a meaningful great day to you.