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| by Benita Tupchong, age 17, Streetsville Secondary School, Ontario, |
Jul 12, 2004 |
As consumers, we can also take note of products that possess a special mark or label, which insures that they were produced following certain protective measures. One success with the usage of such labels has been in the carpet industry. As of 2002, more than 3 million carpets possessing a RUGMARK label (created in 1994) were sold in Europe and North America. The RUGMARK assures consumers that no illegal child labour was used in its manufacturing. Carpet-producing countries such as India, Nepal, and Pakistan are currently working with the RUGMARK program. If this can be implemented for rugs, why can this strategy not be applied to a wider range of products? Here one voice can be a powerful catalyst for change. Through activism, we can speak out on issues such as the exploitation of children, and motivate others to follow our examples with our words and everyday decisions in the way we live. It is our responsibility to be conscious consumers and not create demand for products made by companies that use child labour.
Another way in which youth can take action is by lobbying government officials to put pressure on countries that are not effectively implementing protective human rights measures. As of this date, 192 countries have ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child, and many other legal policies have been created; yet the political will to enforce many of these mandates is what is lacking. By voicing our concern about the importance of universal human rights for children, we can shake off apathy and start promoting human justice.
Overcoming child labour requires a joint effort of the developing and developed worlds. There is no single solution that exists to any global issue; nevertheless, with passion and a drive for change, we can make positive advancements toward its eradication. That journey involves the battle against ignorance, apathy, and material-consumerism. We can do our part, by starting to act responsibly, and not passively letting the world’s disparities continue. We can take the first step by educating ourselves, and then acting on the knowledge we have acquired. We need to open our minds and hearts to our continental neighbours — to look beyond the differences between us, and see how similar we actually are. If we can just convince others to care enough about the well-being of a child halfway across the globe, we can move mountains. The key is activation of the global social conscience; once it is stimulated, we will be one step closer to making the world a better place.
Works Cited
Belamy, Carol. “Child Labour: Rights, risks, and realities.” The Rotarian. September 1997: pp. 26-29.
Clark, Bruce, and John Wallace. Global Connections: Canadian World Issues. Toronto: Pearson Education Canada, 2002.
Free The Children. 10 April 2004.
International Labour Organization. 10 April 2004. < http://www.ilo.org/>
Kielburger, Craig. Free The Children. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Inc., 1998
Salmon, Katy. “Kenya’s Schools Try to Accommodate Free Education.” International News Service News. 20 April 2004.
“Summary results of Child Labour Survey in Pakistan (1996).” International Labour Organization. 6 February 2001. 20 April 2004.
The Rugmark Foundation. 1 April 2004. 15 April 2004.
UNICEF. April 15, 2004.
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