Help end exploitative child labor!
You can help us to eliminate the worst forms of child labor, support our “Education Works” initiative and get involved today (see details below) …
Each child has the right to an education and to grow-up in a safe environment. Know that actions that you take today could make a difference in children’s lives all over the world. Many of us are not able to travel worldwide, directly help a child who is suffering, exploited, or abused, but their are many other steps that can be taken that are meaningful and can lead to actions that make a difference in children’s lives. Here are just some of the ways that you can help:
Community Activists:
• Report child labor cases in your neighborhood to local wage and hour authorities.
• Organize your community or your school to raise awareness on child labor. (Need a speaker for an event, send email to: Mull@endchildlabor.org. Facilitate the local media to do stories on domestic and international child labor–we can help. Make sure that the information gets to us and other media sources when you learn that a child has been injured or died due to a work-related accident. Encourage the parents or siblings of the child to contact us.
• Learn about the laws, conventions and treaties that have been ratified and passed in your country that address child labor. Find out how well your or another country is doing on compliance with international laws and conventions. (Click on Database in the left menu bar to see current laws and conventions and countries ratification status.)
• Encourage the use of enforcement mechanisms that are effective in implementing your country’s laws against child labor. Ask your government officials for the statistics that demonstrate the results of enforcement actions in your state or country.
Teachers:
• Incorporate child labor into your lesson plans and teach your students about this issue. This will not only help them understand about the situation of children in other countries, but may also help them to avoid getting into a work situation that could result in an accident or injury for themselves. (Need background information or a speaker, please contact us.)
Employers:
• Be socially responsible in your production practices and avoid hiring children into work that may place their health, safety or morals at risk. (If you need help with determining how to establish a social accountability auditing program or how to improve your exisiting mechanism, please contact us (send email to: Martine@endchildlabor.org ).
Students:
• Get involved and learn about what is happening in your community and with your fellow students. Organize a school-based campaign, such as cutting the labels off of canned goods and sending the labels with letters to the companies asking them if children were used in the production of the product and what they are doing to ensure that that does not happen. (Most canned and boxed goods include an address, telephone number or email address to write for information.) Also, when you are thinking about taking a job, consider the ramifications when you work too many hours or in a job that may place you at risk, not only for your health but also how this could affect your grades and graduation.
• Enter the “Let Your Voice Be Heard” essay contest for your chance to win a free trip to attend the Barcelona Forum 2004 and get a chance to meet young people from other cultures and share your thoughts and ideas on making this world a better place for all of us. Check out the Barcelona Forum 2004 section of our website for more details or to learn more and for travel assistance visit: www.barcelonaforum2004us.org today.
• Join and actively participate with other youth who are involved in a listserv, share your ideas and viewpoints on child labor with other youth. Just send us an email and let us know you want to get involved (send email to: Mull@endchildlabor.org). There are several active youths groups who are working on the issue. You could be the leader that helps get this started at your school, place of worship or community center.