The global march against child labor occurred in 1998, following a significant response to the desire to end child labor. It is grass-roots movement that motivates many individuals and organizations to unite and fight child labor and not the annual rally.
The main purpose of this movement is to:
- "Protect and promote the rights of all children, especially the right to receive meaningful free education"
- "To be free from economic exploitation and from doing any work that may undermine a child's physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development." The march was very successful and achieved its goal by allowing for changes to occur with the policy of child labor with the International Labor Organization (ILO)
Video Global march against child labor
Ikhtisar
The parade began on 17 January 1998 under the leadership of Kailash Satyarthi. This event is a global conjuncture that brings non-governmental organizations (NGOs), unions, teachers, children and individuals together to combat child labor. People from all over the world come together. There are people who line up only in their area and there are others who proceed to Geneva, Switzerland. They are called the core marcher.
The demonstrators united and advanced through Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the United States. Their final destination is Geneva, Switzerland where the International Labor Organization (ILO) meeting takes place. At this conference, the issue of child labor and the adoption of new policies to prevent it at the global level are discussed. This parade is significant at the ILO convention on the worst forms of child labor, otherwise known as Convention no. 182, because:
- The opinions of marchers are strongly considered when writing the draft.
- Also, it became the most rapidly ratified convention in the history of the ILO with 150 countries adopting this draft.
This march is important for children in the field of work because the main cause is to expel economic exploitation, not only in the labor field, but also through trafficking in persons where children are usually sold for commercial services.
For students who can not participate physically in the parade, they can participate in March Online sponsored by the Massachusetts-based Children's Campaign for "Building Schools for Iqbal". More than 3,000 classrooms with students publish messages on the March Global web page.
Some goals are created and collectively approved by delegates from support organizations for the Global March:
- Increase the concern and awareness of child labor
- Encourage ratification and implementation of child labor conventions and living education by law
- Gather the most affordable national and international resources to maintain education for all children
- Public opinion and Marshal's involvement with the widespread prejudices that contribute to child labor
- Order the immediate eradication of most forms of oppressive child labor
- Supports constructive actions by consumers and employees
- Ensure adequate care and reintegration of child labor
Maps Global march against child labor
Involved Organization
Currently, there are many organizations that support the cause of the global parade:
- International Education
- Oxfam International
- Action Help
- World Vision
- Social Alerts
- World Teacher Confederation
- Save the Children Fund (UK)
- International Public Service (PSI)
- Unblock the Kids
- Mani Tese
International Steering Committee
International Steering Committee (membership drawn from almost every continent) for March Global against child labor is formed and consists of:
- African Network for the Prevention and Protection of Child Abuse and Abandonment in Kenya
- Anti-Slavery International in the United Kingdom
- International Education in Belgium
- FundaHao ABRINQ in Brazil
- International Employment Fund in the United States
- Network against Child Labor in South Africa
- Novib in the Netherlands
- Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights in the United States
- South Asian Coalition on Child Waiters in India
- Terre des Hommes-Suisse in Switzerland
Benefits
This parade is important for children because it prevents them from experiencing economic exploitation in the field of labor such as human trafficking. The policies introduced through this parade are very much emphasized on education. When children are educated, it helps the economy because they are more likely to get out of their poverty situation. By limiting education, it limits prosperity
The origin of this March
The parade has 140 different countries participating in action with thousands of partners. It consists of events, rallies, foot parade and caravan buses. The first country to start the march was in Manila, Philippines on January 17, 1998. The march took place in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the United States. Of all those participating in the parade, only a select few are known to be the core actors moving to Geneva, Switzerland where the ILO meets for possible revision of new international conventions on the most intolerable forms of child labor (Convention No. 182).
The United States is leading their own national parade. It started in Los Angeles, California on May 2, 1998. The protesters went through all the major cities like Dallas, Little Rock, St. Louis, Detroit and New York. The last city they visited was Washington, D.C. on May 26, 1998. From there, the core pioneers traveled to Geneva, Switzerland. "The US parade has two main objectives: to focus on domestic child labor issues, particularly those related to sweatshop and migrant farm work, and to encourage consumers to sue, retailers to sell and producers to produce child labor-free goods."
In their national journey many organizations are actively involved. These US organizations sponsor Global March against Child Labor.
- AFL-CIO
- The American Teachers Federation
- Agricultural Farmer Opportunity Program
- Childreach/US PLAN Member
- The International Child Labor Coalition
- Church of the Brethren General Board
- Community Action in Latin America
- Dr. Homa Darabi Foundation
- Unblock Children/US.
- Women's Federation General Club
- Global Kids Inc.
- Washington International Labor Organization/Branch Office
- International Labor Rights Fund
- Children's Campaign For "Building a School for Iqbal"/Padang Pang Ladang Junior Secondary School
- Children Meet Kids Can Make a Difference
- National Consumer League
- The Ethical Washington Political Action and Social/Community Committee
- Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights
- General and Methodist Church Councils of the United Methodist Church
- United Methodist Church: Women's Division of the Ministry of Global Ministries
- Washington Ethical Action Office/American Ethical Union
- Women's Environment & amp; Development Organization
- Youth Advocate Program International
Rise to Prominence
The march was a success due to the revision of a new international convention on the most intolerable forms of child labor. Convention No. 182 changed the following year. Through this parade, Convention no. 182 became the most rapidly ratified law. This decree serves as a guideline for international governments when creating labor laws. Currently, more than 150 countries have adopted Convention no. 182 in their own country.
Kailash Satyarthi is largely responsible for taking the initiative to organize this parade. She has a vision to eliminate child labor everywhere and enable education to be very accessible for children. Kailash Satyarthi is a moving force in turning our attention to child labor as a social issue. Through his tireless efforts, he has "brought political and judicial mechanisms into action, and awakened the media to support the most oppressed children". His work did not stop after this parade, he moved on to other projects such as the Global Campaign for Education to promote universal education.
Evolution
The rally began another event to jointly combat child labor. The rally spread awareness to remove child labor in our society and around the world. Here are some examples of branched events from this rally:
- March South Asia Against Child Trade
- The UN announced the Global Initiative to Combat Human Trafficking
- Global Campaign for Education
- 2002 World Cup Campaign
- Fair Chocolate for the World
- North Advocacy Office in Washington D.C.
First World Children's Congress on Child Labor
The First World Children's Congress on Child Labor (CWWCL) was held in May 2004 in Florence, Italy. The event was hosted by Global March against Child Labor and other grassroots organizations.
Children are invited to the event through a selection where in Congress they are able to interact and communicate their views on issues most related to their childhood and adolescence. They reveal their experiences, dreams, and ambitions and take part in the various activities that lead to the establishment of the Action Plan. Selection for Congress is conducted through a democratic consultation process (nominated by other children) at the national and local levels. Most representatives are former child laborers who receive assistance from vocational education and training at local community organizations or care centers; but some still work so they can pay for their education and some are elected to represent associations such as Trade Unions and Children's Rights Organizations.
This Congress is important because this is the first Congress in which children become the focus and become the main spokesperson, decision-makers and recipients. About 200 children ages 11 to 17 are present. Children who take part in Congress come from different backgrounds and cultures and represent different regions, countries and organizations
This conference is very important in understanding child labor and exploitation of work
Facts and Statistics
- 1997: The ILO estimates between 100 million and 200 million child laborers in the world
- 2004: The ILO estimates there are 218 million child laborers worldwide, with 7 out of 10 working on the farm
- To eliminate child labor globally, the ILO estimates $ 38 billion per year for 20 years.
- In 2001, the Indian government claimed to have 12.7 million child laborers
- In Brazil to convince parents to send their children to school rather than work, the government pays the family $ 4.50 per child a month. Currently, there are more than 1 million participants
- In Guatemala, girls work normally 21 hours a week for domestic responsibilities plus 40 hours of work a week beyond this.
Events
In the match against Germany on 17 April 2002, the Argentine National Team showed their unity in eliminating child labor. They held up a banner that read, "The only job for children is to go to school"
On January 17, 2004, Global March against Child Laber celebrated its 6th anniversary in Quezon City. The celebrations were held at the Occupational Safety and Health Center where more than 5,000 children and their parents marched from the Quezon Memorial Circle to honor the movement. ILO, government organizations, churches and other organizations are present at the celebration.
Political candidates are invited in the hope of convincing them to include child labor issues on their platforms. The candidates are introduced to the issue of child labor and talking with children.
After the traditional signing of RA 9231 all participants joined hands to reward the steps they made and the prizes they received because of the success achieved by the Global March movement. Invited artists and select groups of child laborers exhibit whatever talent and artistic skills they have in activities such as dancing, singing and playing musical instruments ".
Recent events
The next country to face the march is Zimbabwe. The parade will take place from 1-31 December 2007. It will start in Harare and end at Plumtree. The aim is to combat child labor and to spread education to children in the country. Media outlets will be used to promote the event via television, newspapers and radio. One of the major organizations that contributed to this parade was the New Hope Foundation.
References
http://www.NL-Aid.org
Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments