Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - Children are exploited in labour not only in developing countries but also countries in Europe including Italy and it is one of the most serious problems in the world of work.
To address the problem the first 10 Children’s World Congress on Child Labour organised by Mani Tese and three trade unions is being held in Florence, Italy, 10-13 May and it will conclude with a Global March against Child Labour.
This Children’s World Congress on Child Labour is the first international congress against child labour at which children are present. Some 300 former child workers aged 13 to17 coming from 50 different countries will speak of their experience in front of political leaders, trade unionists, representatives of NGOs, national and international institutions, governments and personalities from the world of culture, entertainment and sport.
Thanks to an alliance launched by the Global March against Child Labour former child workers are playing a major role in spreading awareness of the abuse of children’s rights.
246 million of the world’s children work, 60% in Asia, 29% in Africa, 8% in Latin America and 3% elsewhere. Of these 110 million are under 12, 120,000 are child soldiers fighting in wars in Africa. The country with the highest number of child workers aged 4 to 17, is India with17 million. 5 million children are unpaid slaves working to pay family debts; In Italy an estimated 144,285 children aged 7 to 14 work.
The Global March against Child Labour was started in 1998 to promote and protect children’s rights, especially the right to free, quality education and the right not to be exploited. The Global March is active in 140 countries and is held every year.
(AP) (10/5/2004 Fides Service; Righe:32; Parole:388)
