According to the International Labor Organization in this article by the U.S. Department of Labor, Child labor is defined as all work performed by a person below the age of 18 in the following practices:
(A) all forms of slavery such as the sale and trafficking of children
(B) the use or offering of a child for prostitution or for the production of pornography
(C) the use or offering of a child in the production and trafficking of drugs
(D) work which, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children
I could barely breathe reading through the article. People, the simple fact that there is a reason for such a sanction to exist is in itself utterly disturbing. Please do not turn a deaf ear or a blind eye to the terrifying and oppressive reality so many in this world live and die in every day.
The bold truth is that you and I live incredibly comfortable, easy, safe lives with an abundance of resources and money available to us. And on top of it all is freedom. It is our obligation to do our part in the prevention and elimination of injustice...because we can...so we should.
"...loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free..." - Isaiah 58:6
Do your part. Start where you are. Buy fair trade products.
See this list for goods produced using child labor.
