The International Day Against Child Labor has recently been celebrated where the International Labor Organization has condemned the existing problem that ruins childhood to millions of children around the world. Who can imagine a child of five, six or eleven working? It is a really sad and unfortunate fact that occurs in several countries of our planet.
You only have to consult the data to realize the magnitude of this problem, in 2004 there were no less than 218 million children between the ages of 5 and 17 who were in the labor market. Although this figure has been reduced compared to that presented in 2000, some 246 million children, the data are insufficient and continue to show the suffering suffered by millions of children.
Now we remember a documentary on this subject issued years ago in which through hidden camera was denounced as children of 5 and 6 years worked in India filling match boxes or tying firecrackers. Children from Pakistan who worked sewing soccer balls for prestigious brands for a miserable salary also appeared in the documentary. Although these jobs are slaves, there are worse ones, such as working in a mine or quarry, thousands of children do so with serious risks to their physical integrity and health, and for them childhood does not exist. Many are the countries that have seen the child labor market grow, the need is one of the main causes, but it must also be added that there are many people who take advantage of the needs by enriching themselves at the cost of the lives of many children. It is incredible and unfortunate at the time in which we find ourselves, with so many technological, scientific, medical advances, etc., that we have not evolved morally to avoid these problems that plague half humanity and especially with children.
We are sure that there are solutions to manage to tackle these problems, but when the political and economic factor intervenes, the solutions go to waste. Today the premises that govern our world are precisely those that revolve around the economic and political, when a project is not economically profitable, however beneficial it may be for children, it automatically ceases to be viable.
Gentlemen, put yourself in the shoes of these children, try to see beyond their pockets, perhaps so they can address the issue and start applying existing solutions.
In the link of the news you can analyze the data provided, we should not be impassive before them. Our awareness and our complaint are the grain of sand that we all must contribute. Do you think there is a solution to the problem?
