World Vision has called upon G20 governments to protect the world’s children from economic exploitation, citing figures showing there are still 168 million child over the age of five laboring to the detriment of their development.
Jayakumar Christian, a child labor campaigner for the organisation, says G20 nations, whose leaders will meet in Brisbane this November, should use their massive purchasing power to end the exploitation of children. He says one in 10 children are working instead of going to school in what can be “quite hazardous and intolerable conditions”. Forty-four per cent of them are aged between five and 11 years.
Dr Christian and World Vision Australia chief executive Tim Costello launched a World Vision International report yesterday looking at child labor in government procurement chains. Creating markets for child friendly growth sets out the need for a common approach to identifying, reporting and addressing child labor.
“Economic growth should never be purchased at the expense of a child’s basic right to a childhood,” said Mr Costello.
To see the full report, follow this link.