Commemorating the 25th anniversary of the adoption of United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), Global March Against Child Labour along with International Trade Union Confederation, Education International, Anti-Slavery International, Kids Rights International and Thomson Reuters Foundation launched the End Child Slavery Week. This would be an annual week of worldwide action organised in partnership with the anti-child slavery community, education campaigners as well as public and private sector leaders to mobilize public opinion and political will. This week will be observed around the world from 20-26 November this year.
168 million children worldwide are languishing in child labour with 85 million in work that is absolutely hazardous for their physical, psychological and moral wellbeing besides denying them their universal right to education. Most of these are child slaves and victims of trafficking. With these children left behind, any growth story will be undeniably incomplete.
The overarching demand for this year’s End Child Slavery Week is to incorporate abolition of child slavery in post- 2015 Development Agenda or the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Concerted actions and activities ranging from seminars, youth rallies, marches, candle light vigils on one end to debates, child rights exhibitions, sit-ins and human chains on the other hand will take place in several countries like Colombia, Paraguay, Argentina, United Kingdom, Peru, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan to name a few.
Inaugurating the End Child Slavery Week at London yesterday, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Kailash Satyarthi said “Failure to end slavery is global sin”. He called upon the global community for a zero tolerance on child slavery and appealed to sign the petition addressed to UN Secretary General reiterating the demand for this year. On the occasion of Universal Children’s Day, Kailash Satyarthi has emphasised that it is time to translate the philosophy and virtues of child rights guaranteed in UNCRC into responsible personal, social, political and business actions.
Visit the website: www.endchildslaveryweek.org
Sign the petition: http://www.endchildslaveryweek.org/sign-petition/
Twitter: @ecsweek ; #EndChildSlaveryWeek
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ecsweek
