Global Poverty and Slavery: two sides of the same coin
The link between illiteracy, child labour and poverty forms the classic ‘chicken and egg’ dilemma; what came first the poverty or the child labour?
Most of us would like to think neither exists but the sad haunting truth is that half of the world’s population lives on less than US$2 a day and there are more people in slavery now than any other time in history.
Research by Free the Slaves organisation estimates that today there are at least 27 million people in slavery worldwide. In the 400 years that transatlantic slave trade was rampant an estimated 12 million Africans were shipped to various colonies in the West.
Former US Secretary of the State, Madeleine Albright has described international and transnational human trafficking as the “fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world.”
Child Labour
Today, there are 8.4 million children in child slavery who are denied access to education. Each year 1.2 million more children are being forced into slavery.
Children weave carpets, sell drugs, make glass, and pick cotton, fire tiles, dye material and work in the mines. They work long hours, are exposed to chemicals, high levels of pollution and noise. They have no medical insurance, social security or protective clothing.
Factors that keep kids poor and at risk of child slavery include:
· War and violence: parents and family members are killed and infrastructure vital to social and economical development is destroyed.
· Poor health: lack of access to basic health services hinders a child’s potential to grow and develop.
· Lack of education: poor quality schooling and lack of education restrict children’s future work and careers.
· Vulnerability and exploitation: lack of child support and protection services leave children vulnerable to exploitation and death when something goes wrong, for example, a death of a parent or a drought.
Kailash Satyarthi, Chairperson of the Global March Against Child Labour believes the elimination of child labour and guaranteeing good quality free education for all children [can be seen] as two sides of the same coin. One cannot be achieved without the other.
Areas with a high incidence of poverty also have a high magnitude and proportion of out-of-school children and child labour.
69.4 per cent of children work for income to support their families. Without this income many families would starve. Poor families weigh the cost of sending their children to school against the cost of income lost by sending their children to work.
Children who work prematurely are denied the opportunity to acquire education and skills they need to obtain decent work and sustainable incomes as adults.
Why is Basic Education Important?
Education is important for economic self-sufficiency and social development. It improves many aspects of life including:
· Health- especially of girls and women; it can, for example, reduce infant and maternal mortality rates and the incidence of HIV/AIDS.
· Personal Development- gives people a sense of dignity and self worth.
· Social development- helps community involvement and good citizenship.
· Environmental sustainability- education gives people a better understanding of how to protect the environment so it is sustainable.
Breaking the cycle of poverty and child labour is only possible if we guarantee good quality free education for all children.
How do I know this:
American Anti-Slavery Group, www.iabolish.org/
Free the Slaves Organisation, www.freetheslaves.net
Matador Travel, 10 shocking facts about global slavery, http://matador.org/10-shocking-facts-about-global-slavery-in-2008/
The Oaktree Foundation, www.theoaktree.org
Save the Children, www.savethechildren.org
