Slave labor generates 150 billion US dollars annually. Of the 21 million slaves worldwide, 26 percent are minors and children. To mark the 25th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the “End Child Slavery Week” campaign is drawing attention to this abuse.
On November 20, 2014, the world celebrates the 25th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In the same week, the “End Child Slavery Week” campaign (20 to 26 November 2014) calls for an end to slave labor as one of the greatest crimes against children and young people. Between the years 1450 and 1900, there were 11.3 million slaves in the world. Today there are 21 million. This includes 5.5 million minors and children.
Take a stand and sign the “End Child Slavery Week” petition for the attention of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.
150 projects against slave-like working conditions
All Terre des hommes organizations together support 150 projects worldwide in which young migrants are protected from slave-like working conditions. This is why the International Federation Terre des hommes and its international migration campaign Destination Unknown are joining “End Child Slavery Week”.
Only the USA, Somalia and South Sudan do not want to sign
The Convention on the Rights of the Child has been ratified by 194 countries and has the greatest support of all human rights treaties. The countries that have still not ratified the Convention are Somalia, South Sudan and the USA. Much has been achieved in the last 25 years, for example child mortality has been massively reduced. However, one of the biggest problems is still that children and young people are forced to work in exploitative, dangerous and violent conditions.
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