“GO FOR THE GOAL … END CHILD LABOUR”

JUNE 12 MARKED COMMEMORATION
OF WORLD AGAINST CHILD LABOUR

www.voanews.com - In marking World Day against Child Labour on June 12th, the International Labor Organization says progress toward eliminating the worst forms of child labor is slowing down. To mark this day, the ILO is urging countries to do more to end this abhorrent practice. This year, the celebration coincides with the World Cup in South Africa, so its theme is, “Go for the goal, end child labour”, crafted from the framework of the FIFA 2010 WORLD CUP; but, for millions of children the beautiful game is just a distant dream. Of the 215 million child laborers, the ILO estimates that 115 million, are trapped in the worst forms of child labor, including all forms of slavery, such as debt bondage, using children in armed conflict, or in the sex industry. Many children also are forced into hazardous work, including domestic service, agriculture, and mining. The largest number of children works in South Asia, but, in terms of percentage, sub-Saharan Africa has the largest number of child laborers.

Patrick Quinn, of the ILO's International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor, says children as young as six or seven years of age are forced to work long days in dismal conditions, which are damaging to their health. “We know from our statistics that the overwhelming majority of children are actually, they are not working for a salary,” he said.
“They are very often in home-based industries.” “They are working to support families who are very often trapped in poverty. Large percentages of these children are working in agriculture, and many others are working in the informal sector, working on the streets, working in domestic service,” he added. Further efforts must also be made for early identification of children at risk, as well as quicker and more intensive intervention with the child and the family once difficulties are identified.


While billions of people are caught up in the excitement of the World Cup, some 215 million children are laboring for survival. This is the harsh reality for many children around the world, who do not have the opportunity to play or learn. This cruel issue needs people with open hearts to let in the love and mercy toward the needy and helpless.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

In the glorious days, or before the advent of the age of Kali, the brāhmanas, the cows, the women, the children and the old men were properly given protection. ... The protection of children gives the human form of life its best chance to prepare the way of liberty from material bondage. Such protection of children begins from the very day of begetting a child by the purificatory process of garbhādhāna-samskāra, the beginning of pure life. ... This complete outlook is based on factors leading to successful humanity as against the civilization of polished cats and dogs. The killing of the above-mentioned innocent creatures is totally forbidden because even by insulting them one loses one's duration of life. In the age of Kali they are not properly protected, and therefore the duration of life of the present generation has shortened considerably.

Śrīla A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda :
“The Śrīmad Bhāgavatam”
Purport in Canto 1 - Chapter 8 - Verse 5.