Summer 2022 Action

Summer 2021 Action

Summer 2020 Action

 MAY-DAY 2020 Global Citizenship School ACTION......

 You can take Global Citizenship Action during COVID-19 by: 

HELPING TO END CHILD LABOUR

Please read & share this page with your friends and take 1, 2 or even

 THREE of the following SUGGESTED ACTIONS:

2. Watch this super 4 min. video 

Click Here for a must-watch 4 min video with great visuals & insights. Read the lyrics and sing along to "Til Everyone Can See" and SHARE this website with 'Friends'. (Click "cc" for lyrics.)

3. Make a Poster or Picture

and post photo to #EndChildLabour by Friday 29th May 2020

The poster should contrast the lives of children in 'Child Labour' with children enjoying a 'Decent Childhood'.  For ideas see 'Til Everyone Can See'  in Action No. 1 video above and/or click Here for 'Facts about Child Labour worldwide'.

More information about Child Labour:  HERE

End Child Labour 

The International Labour Organization (ILO) defines child labour as work that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children; and interferes with their schooling. 

The negative effects of child labour arising from the difficulty of tasks and harsh working conditions include a number of problems such as long term injuries, death, malnutrition, depression, drug dependency etc. Most child labourers come from disadvantaged backgrounds or minority groups and many are abducted from their families. Most of these children are defenceless and have little or no protection. In some situations child labour income is crucial to the purchase of food but there are alternatives to using child labour.

• Current state of Child Labour in the world today: 2020 figures show more than 220 million children from age 5 to 17 years are child labourers. An estimated 150 million of them are victims of forced labour with an estimated 50% engaged in hazardous work. 75 million of these children are below 10 years old. 50% of child labourers are in sub-Saharan Africa with 40% in Asia. Over 2 million victims of child labour live in wealthy countries. Official figures show more boys in child labour than girls (87million to 63 million) but that may be because many girls are domestic service labourers in private households and go uncounted. Over half of the child labourers work in family enterprises or on farms with no contacts.

The Causes of Child Labour include:

·         Poverty and high unemployment levels.

·         Limited compulsory and free education in 'majority world'.

·         Inadequate child labour national laws and enforcement.

·         A lack of workers' rights and decent living wages.

·         Unfair global economy pressures and unregulated capitalism. 

*Also, the 'Fast Fashion' practice and habits of many in the 'minority world' add to child labour issues .

THE BIG QUESTIONS: 

1.Who is responsible for child Labour?

Child labour is a fact of life for children in many countries and it is an issue that affects us all. Just look at our food and clothing chains for evidence of child labour abuse. It is therefore the responsibility of everyone to contribute to the elimination of child labour – all governments, trade unions, businesses, international NGO organisations, communities, employers, teachers, parents and indeed children have a role to play in ENDING CHILD LABOUR.

2. What is the solution and what can we do? We in Global Citizenship School support the view that Decent Work For All as a principle and Ending Child Labour as a specific target is worth campaigning on as a core action and part of our Justice, Equality and Sustainability raison d'étre. We ask parents, teachers and children to take appropriate May Day Action in support of ending child labour.

3. What is 'May Day'? In Celtic tradition, Lá Bealtaine (May Day) separated the dark days from the bright days. "May Day" took on a new meaning in the 19th century as an International Workers’ Day. It grew out of the movement for labour rights and an eight-hour work day. This year, "May Day & Decent Work" for primary schools is on FRIDAY 1st May. The Irish COVID-19 review is on Tuesday 5th May!

4. What is 'Decent Work'? 

Decent work is based upon the principle of 'a fair day's work for a fair day's pay'. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) 'Decent work' involves opportunities for work that are productive and deliver a fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for families, better prospects for personal development and social integration, freedom for people to express their concerns, organise and participate in the decisions that affect their lives and equality of opportunity and treatment for all women and men. If all workers were paid fair wages & had decent work conditions then poverty and child labour would be on the way out, both locally & globally.

Three actions for May Day, End Child Labour: 

1.    Teach or play the following 3 min. song & video– “Til Everyone Can See” (Nepali version) about child labour to all the pupils. https://youtu.be/qHNgfStLwNc  and SHARE with 'Friends'. 

2.    Classes to create black and white posters which contrast the lives of children in child labour with children enjoying a decent childhood and organising a display for other classes/the whole school community.

3.    Take photos of the children’s posters and send them to Nestle and Starbucks with a request that they explain why they use child labour in their supply chain and why your school should not boycott Nestle products? Starbucks and Nestle have been recently exposed for using child labour on the Dispatches documentary on Channel 4 (U.K.) aired on 2nd March 2020.

 REPEAT: Please share your actions to #EndChildLabour on or before Friday 1st May

This article was submitted by Maurice Hurley of Global Citizenship School to INTO InTouch magazine.