LENT 2004 - “Humanity cannot close its eyes to such a tragedy! What have these children done to deserve such maltreatment?” (John Paul II - Message for Lent) 2 - CHILD LABOUR

SLAVES OF MANY OWNERS
In Asia - In Africa - In Latin America - workers without rights - will the future be any different?

ILO: CHRONOLOGY OF THE FIGHT AGAINST CHILD LABOUR

AFRICA/BENIN - Little girls in Cotonou: education changed the lives of many little girls.

AFRICA/BENIN - “Child labour is a modern form of slavery ” says Father Claude, in front line to fight the plague of street children in Benin

AFRICA/ANGOLA - “To eliminate the scourge of child labour parents must be made to realise that that children are not the property of adults ” says Father Benedito who runs a Home for Children in southern Angola

ASIA/PAKISTAN - “To uproot child labour a greater effort must be made to eliminate poverty”: Archbishop Lawrence Saldhana, President of Bishops’ Conference tells Fides - The local Church provide child workers with free afternoon schooling

ASIA/INDIA - The Church keeps close watch on child labour: religious institutes and lay associations provide valid assistance

AMERICA/BRAZIL
In Brazil the child’s “working week” grows with the child: 12 hours for a 5 year old to 37 hours for a 16 year old. Particularly serious problem of domestic work: little girls kept in semi-slavery and often abused.

AMERICA/PERU
Archdiocese of Huancayo denounces: to support their families more than 3000 children work on building sites, mines, plantations