It is not child work, it is child slavery
In this new century, we can still witness one of the most shameful
situations of our time: there are 400 million enslaved children between 4 and
14 years old around the world, 165 million are under 5. Wars, prostitution,
labour exploitation, starvation, ill-treatment… are the normal day for millions
of children. Children’s exploitation continues increasing (it is multiplied in
the impoverished South and it reappears in the enriched North) as a consequence
of international trade, the technological monopoly, the passivity and cynicism
of international organisms worldwide, economic policies imposed by
international financial institutions (WB, IMF,
etc.) and their complicity with governments who favour multinational companies.
The 16th of April of 1995, a Pakistani boy called Iqbal Mashi, Catholic
militant of the Bonded Labour Liberation Front of Pakistan was murdered at the
age of 12 by the mafia of carpets after receiving many threats for having
closed companies in which all the workers were young slaves. His example spread
internationally; he was awarded a prize in Stockholm and Boston and dedicated
the money to open a school; he stated his intention to become a lawyer to
continue fighting against child slavery.
In memory of Iqbal, a symbol of 400 million child slaves, we demand the
16th of April be set as the International Day against Child Slavery.
The Christian Cultural Movement and Solidarity Youth Path have posed this
proposal in Spain and Iberoamerica:
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