Rights

"Describe a right that relates to your issue? How do you know it's a right? Does everyone agree it is a right? Why or why not?"
First, I would like to take a moment to identify some of the rights related to child labor:

- right to work

- right to an education

- right to control oneself

- right to socialize

- right to receive payment

- right to be happy

- right to be safe from physical, emotional, and sexual harm

- right to free speech
- right to do as one desires

- right to good health

and most important....

The Right to FREEDOM

The "right to freedom" is the most widely used reason by activists to eliminate the use of child labor. This right is an overall right in that it includes the other rights listed in it's definition. The dictionary defines freedom as the exemption from outside control, influence, and confinement--the individual is in control of his or her own life. This right is considered a normative right in that it is a right that ought to be able to have and expect from other citizens and the government. This right could be seen as deriving from religion, morality, natural law, or rationality, and it does not derive from power. This is a right that people should not have to actively claim nor the government officials have to back up. Sadly, these children are deprived of their freedom as they follow the commands of their "employers".

Freedom is considered a right because it includes the elements necessary [to be considered a right]: a definition of relationships, an official statement, a process for determining contested rights, and a remedy. The relationship between "employer" and child laborer is defined as complete dominance of the "employer" over the child; where as, those who claim that everyone deserves to be free argue that such a relationship should not exist and that the child should maintain control of himself or herself. As for official statement, most countries' governments have laws prohibiting the use of child labor. The process for determining the absence of freedom is to seek out those who are unable to do the things they want do because they are told not to, show fear of those who tell them what to do, are unhappy, and are unable to leave. The best remedy would be to arrest those who take an individual's freedom while also rehabilitating the indivdual so that he or she can gain the skills necessary to lead independent lifestyles.

Everyone agrees that freedom is a right because freedom enables us to do the things we want to do. Without freedom, we lose our characteristically human qualities of being able to make our own mistakes, having choices, and being socially influenced by various mediums as well as by our peers, family, and other people in our lives. I have yet to meet a person that believes that freedom is not a right.

FREEDOM is a RIGHT in that IT ENABLES US TO CHOOSE THE LIFE WE LIVE.

Rules

"What are the rules that govern behavior of the targets in your issue? Are they good or bad rules? Do they accomplish their purpose? How can they be improved upon?"

Within government precise rules as well as rules of thumb are present in relation to child labor. Every government has specific laws, or precise rules, that are used to regulate the actions of the country's citizens. Most countries have laws against the use of child labor; yet, it continues in these countries everyday. Why is that? How is it that governments provide precise rules, but continue to see illegal actions take place? Is not the purpose of these precise rules to eliminate child labor practices?

Those citizens who "employ" children are fully aware of these laws, but choose to disregard them. In disregarding these laws, "employers" actively seek out underage workers who they can exploit for their own benefit. These "employers" simply see these children as a source of cheap labor, often only providing minimal amounts of food and shelter. These children are threatened, placed in unhealthy environments, abused, and told that they must repay the debt they continue to accumulate by being supplied with food and shelter. Yes, today's child laborers are subject to bondage slavery. How is the government allowing this to happen? Isn't government supposed to enforce its laws?
Those who write the laws are not those who enforce them. Those who enforce the laws are the officials, such as police officers. The officials are expected to make decisions based on the rules of thumb. Cases of child labor differ from each other. Many cases often include, but are not limited to, instances of human trafficking, violent abuse, hazardous environments, slander, physical labor (i.e. brick-laying, mining, agriculture), domestic work, and prostitution. With officers basing their decisions on rule of thumb, they are often easily bought into not doing anything in response to illegal use of child labor. "Employers" work hard to keep child laborers by keeping the children hidden, paying officers to not react, and even offering the officers sexual favors from the young girls (and occasionally boys). This is where the trouble with government lies. The officials who are to find these criminals fall short in doing their duty of protecting the rights of the children in that they willingly overlook the their treatment in order to gain some form of satisfaction. They let their desires fog their judgment, causing many children to remain working for their "employers".

On the other side of this policy issue, we see activists and interest groups utilizing vague rules to appeal to the general public and government officials. They use vague statements to promote the idea that no one other than the "employers" would be negatively affected by policy eliminating child labor. To gain support, these groups use numbers, emotional appeal (i.e. "Would you let this happen to your kids?!"), and facts to emphasize how great the issue is and simply state that children need to be removed from such situations and reintegrated into society. By being vague, they eliminate the primary instances of people quickly turning away with the notion that the cause would cost them much-- after all, not many people are immediately drawn to things that require them to give a lot of their money. Through the use of vague rules, activists are able to utilize their own talents as means to help these children. Some examples include Musicians raising money for rehabilitating children through concerts, writers telling the stories of the children, therapists providing treatment to the children, and lobbyists asserting their groups concern for the children. Vague rules open many possible actions that can be taken by individuals concerned with these children's welfare. Looking at all that vague rules enable activists to do, it is clear that this type of rule is beneficial in producing long-term results.

Those who make laws and those who enforce laws need to work more closely to ensure that officials are making ethical decisions. It is difficult to ensure that officers are acting appropriately in that they are expected to use good judgment in evaluating these "employers". With the power to arrest or receive favors, these officers are vulnerable to corruption which could lead them to go against their duty. This issue would need to be approached bottom-up in that the interest groups and activists would need to gain supporters, and they would need to convince government officials that policy change is absolutely necessary as well as that officers need to be re-evaluated in regards to ethical action.

VAGUE RULES would be the MOST BENEFICIAL.

Inducements Vs. Sanctions

"What policy tools would help improve policy outcomes on the issue you care about? Would inducements be better than sanctions? "

In the case of child labor, sanctions would be more effective than inducements in that the "employers" see greater benefit in continuing to use child labor because it keeps their costs down. These regulatory tools are best used against the "employers" in that they need to receive punishment that can act as a reinforcement in not "hiring" young children. These "employers" would most likely respond well to jail-time rather than fines. If fines were placed on them they could simply pay then continue using the children and hide the illegal employment more carefully. They need to experience what it is like to have their rights infringed upon. This is the only way we can get some kind of positive response from the "employers".

As for the children, redistributive tools are necessary in that, through donations, we are able to rehabilitate these children. They require a shelter in which they can receive medical attention, undergo therapy, and learn necessary social skills to lead independent lifestyles. The children can, thus, be reintegrated into society.

In the issue of child labor, it is necessary to use both sanctions and inducements. Sanctions work to enforce not using child labor and inducements work to encourage people to donate money used to rehabilitate children. The inducements often include promoting ethical practices and triggering emotional responses.

Targets

"How are the targets of your policy study constructed? How does this affect policy? What if the targets got to use their "local knolwedge" to make policy on their own?"



The targets of my policy issue consist of child laborers, their "employers", activists, and governments. Child laborers and activists aim to eliminate the use of child labor practices and reintegrate the children into a healthier lifestyle in which they receive an education, a home, food, and the opportunity to be independent as adults. The "employers" aim to keep their cheap labor through threats and false claims (i.e. "If you leave, you will be arrested and beaten by police"). While each government differs, most governments have laws against the use of child labor, but typically do not enforce the laws fully. Each target, works to change the actions of the other targets.
The activists work on behalf of the child laborers to educate the general public, with intent to gain more supporters, and to influence the government. Meanwhile, the "employeers" hide the children as well as frighten them into not escaping. When the governments become involved, they (typically) seek out unfair labor practices and prosecute the "employers". The actions of the activists along with those of the governments could diminish the use of child labor, but the "employers" make the task difficult. The policy issue can only be solved if the activists pursue government intervention.
As for the targets using "local knowledge", it could be beneficial, but it is necessary that all targets, except the "employers", use their "local knowledge". If only activists used it, permanent policy changes would be impossible. If only the government used it, there is not a guarantee that the necessary changes would be made. It is necessary that these two targets come together to work against "employers".

Interesting

"Who are the interests involved in your issue? Which interests should be involved that aren't? Should you classmates be involved in your issue? Why aren't they if they should?"

First and foremost, the child laborers are affected. Forced labor affects every aspect of these children's lives. Their mental, emotional, and physical state are endangered by the everyday occurrences within child labor-- this sense of well being is the main interest of these children. What kind of lives can these children have if their safety and health are at stake? Definitely not a "good" life... Sadly, these children's conception of the "good life" is probably one in which they don't have to worry about their next meal, can have a comfortable bed to sleep in, can go to school, and don't have to fear any form of abuse. They WANT A LIFE.

Three other interests in this issue are governments, the "employer", and interest groups working toward the elimination of child labor. The importance of child labor differs by individual governments. Most governments have laws in place that set a minimum working age; however, in the example of Uzbekistan, we see the government using its authority to override the law so it can use children as a source of free labor. Most governments have intentions of protecting children, but some, as is the case with Uzbekistan, overlook child protection laws for their own benefit and other countries are not proactive in seeking out individuals who exploit children through forced labor. Child labor is of interest to government in that its treatment of its MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS, children, affects the image of the country portrayed to other countries, support of citizens and non-citizens, and the efficiency of the government in the years to come.

As for the "employer", his or her interest is in keeping the child as a source of cheap labor. This individual seeks to prevent the child from being removed so the child can continue to work long hours and to remain a source of cheap labor. The "employer" doesn't care about the child's well-being; his or her main concern is MAXIMIZING PROFITS. Quite the opposite, interest groups work toward ENDING the use child labor, REHABILITATING former child laborers, PROSECUTING the "employers", and REINTEGRATING these children into normal lifestyles. Interest groups often push governments to take a more "hands-on" approach in finding unfair employment practices and prosecuting offenders. Interest groups want to give the children control over their own lives.

One group of people who should be interested in this issue are the children's families. True, some families want to save their children from mistreat and simply cannot; however, other families are simply unaware of what their children are experiencing. These families need to be educated on the effects of child labor so they can be wary of "employers" seeking to hire their young children. The families need to take a close look at what they might be subjecting their children to, if it is absolutely necessary that the children support their families. These families should first have the eldest work and the children get an education, but some families are at the lowest level of poverty and absolutely need the children to work as well-- they need to be aware of actual working conditions beforehand. Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to see how these working conditions actually are, but we can hope that families would look out for the well being of their children.

I think it is important for my classmates to be involved. With human rights issues, it is typically more effective to have more people involved. I am not saying that all students need to be human rights activists, but rather, I believe that they should at minimum show some concern. I would love to see my classmates having discussions about the need to end the use of child labor (as well as other forms of modern slavery), but I just ask that they spread the word. The first step in ending said practices is educating the public and providing ways of taking action whether it be just asking them to tell their friends or even join non-profit organizations fighting against such practices. They DO SOMETHING, ANYTHING TO HELP.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On a side note:

I am currently a Young Ambassador for the Not For Sale Project in Cambodia. I ask that everyone reading this blog post at least look at this website and tell their friends about it:

https://nfs.webconnex.com/giving/sarapressey

The website has information on the Cambodia Project, and you can even donate a few dollars, but as I said you don't have to donate anything-- I would just like more people to know about the website so we can find more people to donate to the cause. So, please tell people about it. The Young Ambassador Program requests that Young Ambassadors get at least 20 donations of $5 a month-- so the more people who know, the better!

Who's to Blame

"Think about the different causal stories that could be told about your issue. Which one do you think is correct? Do people generally see it the way you do? Why or why not?"

Let's play the "blame game"... I find it interesting that people always look for a scape goat. Take Deborah Stone's example of drunk drivers for instance, she talks about the grassroots organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving and its action of pressuring "legislatures to pass laws making hosts and servers liable for damages caused by drunk drivers" as well as lobbying "to ban 'happy hours' in bars" (Stone 206). How is it a group of concerned women have moved past moral beliefs to establish a specific person or group of people responsible? I, personally, am a bit skeptical of blaming specific (groups of) people as well as events occurring out of fate which cannot be controlled. Now don't get me wrong, I do believe that there are events out there in which specific people are at fault and those which are neither predictable nor controllable; I just tend to see problems as resulting from complex systems. Many issues arise as consequences of the actions of multiple people or organizations and consist of many components.

In the case of child labor, which accounts for approximately 50% of modern slavery cases, there is more than one person to take into consideration when assessing causation; in fact, the main people and groups to focus on are the child's parents, the "employer", the government and enforcement officials (i.e. police officers, etc.), and in many cases, the traffickers and recruiters. Likewise, other contributing factors include poverty, job opportunity, education, and living conditions.

Let us first examine the factors aside from individuals involved as these factors tie into the roles of these individuals. First, poverty plays a huge part in a child's risk of being forced into labor and bondage slavery. Lack of money brings about poor living conditions in which families struggle to make ends meet, simply providing enough to survive. Subjected to such living conditions, children are often removed from school (if already attending) to help support the family. With very few job opportunities available and children being too young to legally work (in most countries), parents often find the promise of a stranger to provide their child with a better life as a great opportunity.

This is where traffickers, recruiters, and "employers" come in. As most most cases of child labor are also human trafficking cases, recruiters often come to the child's parents offering the child with things such as education, a salary for simple domestic help, meals, a home, and safety. Parents, unaware of the recruiter's intentions, happily send off their children with what appears to be a "god-like" stranger. Then, the child is passed on to the traffickers whose sole purpose is to transport the child either within the same country, across borders, or even transcontinental to the child's "employer", who typically forces the child to work long hours with no pay, for the reason that the salary is going to the parents (it's NOT) or the child is also paying off meals and housing, provides no education, and abuse the child regularly. Likewise, child labor can occur in the same scenario without the recruiters and traffickers; in these cases, the "employer" seeks out the child on his or her own. As for government and enforcement, there are, most often, laws in place which establish a minimum age for employment and require that employers provide safe working conditions, but governments often do not conduct regular and random inspections of employers and their employees, leaving many cases of child labor unnoticed. Often, officers who encounter cases of child labor are coerced by the "employers" into overlooking the situation through bribery in which the officers are offered money and even sex with child laborers. How sick is this-- child labor going unnoticed by government and officers being bribed with money and statutory rape?!

This appalling issue is not due to one specific cause, such as mechanical, intentional, or inadvertent cause, but rather, a complex system of various causes. Without a doubt, I believe that people share the same opinion as I do. Of course, there are those out there who believe that only one is truly the cause, but many people agree that it is an issue of many causes. Being part of a grassroots movement to end global slavery (the Not For Sale campaign), I have personally met many people who agree that slavery of all forms (sex slavery, child labor, human trafficking, etc.) result from many factors which is why we are working together to address all aspects of this monumental issue simultaneously. NO ONE CAUSE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE OTHERS.

Following the Law?

"Find a piece of data that relates to the policy issue you are studying. What type of story does it tell? How can the data be used to tell a story that promotes your view of the ideal policy outcome?"

The United States Department of Labor publishes the Department of Laborers findings on child labor each year. The report provides extensive information on a country's incidents, statistics, and minimal age for employment. Having recently attended the Global Forum on Human Trafficking, I learned conditions. Modern day abolitionists are currently working toward the end of this awful activity.about the child labor conditions in Uzbekistan. At the Global Forum, we were told of how children are taken out of school each year to work in cotton fields and being subjected to poor living conditions.

Here is some data on Uzbekistan from the United States Department of Labor's findings for 2008:


'Incidence and Nature of Child Labor
Numerous credible sources report the widespread, compulsory mobilization of children in Uzbekistan to work during the annual cotton harvest. There are no reliable figures on the number of children involved in the cotton harvest, which is thought to vary considerably by region and year and is a practice that dates from the early Soviet period. During past harvests, schools closed for months in some rural regions to allow children to pick cotton. There have been reports indicating that some children have had to endure poor living conditions during the harvest. While most children involved in the cotton harvest are older than 15 years and the vast majority are over 11 years, children as young as 9 years were seen picking cotton in 2008. Some children from Uzbekistan migrate to Kazakhstan with their families during the harvest season to work in the cotton industry.
Children in Uzbekistan also work in street vending, services, construction, building material manufacturing, and transportation. In urban areas, children as young as 7 or 8 years routinely work in family businesses during school holidays. There are also reports that children grow silkworm cocoons in rural areas.
There are reports that girls are engaged in forced prostitution in Uzbekistan. In the first 9 months of 2008, Uzbek girls were trafficked internally as well as to the United Arab Emirates, India, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkey. Boys were trafficked to Kazakhstan and Russia.
Child Labor Laws and Enforcement
The law sets the minimum age for employment at 16 years, provided it does not interfere with the children’s studies. At 14 years, children may work part time up to 24 hours per week, with parental permission when school is not in session and 12 hours per week when school is in session. Children 16 to 18 years may work up to 36 hours per week while school is not in session and 18 hours per week when school is in session. Children must receive an annual medical examination at their employer’s expense to be eligible for work. A Government decree bans children from working in unhealthy conditions, and specifically lists manual harvesting of cotton as having unhealthy conditions for children
The law prohibits forced labor, except when fulfilling a court sentence or as specified by law. The law prohibits attaining profit from promoting prostitution, and though it does not specifically reference child prostitution, “inducing a minor to commit a crime” carries penalties of imprisonment for 5 to 10 years. The law prohibits trafficking of minors with penalties of 8 to 12 years’ imprisonment.
The minimum age for military recruitment is 18 years.
The prosecutor general and the Ministry of Interior’s criminal investigators are responsible for the enforcement of child labor laws. USDOS reports that while enforcement appears effective in deterring child labor in the formal sector, it is not effective at regulating children’s work in family-based employment. However, in 2008, it initially appears that authorities have made “a concerted effort” to prevent students from being mobilized for the cotton harvest.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Anti-Trafficking in Persons Unit and the Prosecutor’s Office have investigated numerous trafficking-related crimes. The more than 600 investigations of individuals for trafficking crimes in 2008 resulted in almost 400 prosecutions, and 65 of the 2,941 trafficking victims were minors. Uzbekistan has assigned 272 police officers to work on trafficking in persons’ issues, 118 of whom work on the issue exclusively. According to USDOS, there were unconfirmed reports of Government officials involved in trafficking-related bribery and fraud.'
(http://www.dol.gov/ilab/programs/ocft/PDF/2008OCFTreport.pdf)

Outlined is the incidence and nature of child labor as well as child labor laws and enforcement in Uzbekistan. In this we see that the minimum age for employment is 16 years old, the work shouldn't interfere with school, and working conditions should be healthy; however, there is also a clause that states "except when fulfilling a court sentence or as specified by law" (273). This clause enables the government to force children as young as 9 years old into working the cotton fields-- even though the government listed it as having unhealthy working conditions-- as well as living in unhealthy conditions and being taken out of school. How could a government force children into doing exactly what it said was illegal? This supports the idea that the government of Uzbekistan is corrupt in that it holds a different standard for its citizens while it does as it sees fit. The government provides no specific reason for having children work the cotton fields, and that proposes the question as to why they would force children to work the fields rather than employ adults.
The most likely reason is that, by forcing children to pick cotton, Uzbekistan is able to provide cotton at a very low price which attracts consumers of other countries including the United States. Yes, it is true; not only are there children in sweat shops, but rather, there are children doing all forms of labor from picking cotton and working in mines to working as domestic servants and workers in sweat shops. This is just one example of the incidents of child labor happening everyday, around the world. Child laborers are [typically] subjected to long hours, poor working conditions, and lack of education. This also shows how governments often establish fair policies, but are often corrupt or lack necessary enforcement. It is essential that governments hold officials and politicians to the same standards as all citizens, and governments need to develop stronger methods of enforcement.

Imprisonment

"Blog Assignment #7: Pick an image that represents the issue you are studying, post it to the blog and discuss how the image would frame the debate among the public."

This image symbolizes the conditions in which child laborers must live. The bars, similar to that of a jail cell, display the similarities between a corrupt prison and a child laborer's living conditions. Like a corrupt prison, a child is forced to live in a confined and dirty space, given little to eat, are susceptible to illness, and are subject to various forms of abuse. Look closely at the child in this photo, and you will notice how thin he is, the dirt smudge across his nose, and the hurt in his eyes. We don't know his name, his age, or if his parents even know where he is; he could easily be a victim of transnational, domestic or overseas trafficking. This photo would do well in showing public how alone and upset a child laborer is, and it enables the public to get a clear depiction of the child's sense of helplessness. These children often fear that they will always be stuck in these conditions and nobody can help them.

This image would appropriately symbolize the key components of child labor, but it lacks the ability to show the number of children subject to such awful conditions. Likewise, it neither shows the variety of places containing child labor nor does it show the range of children affected by it. Most people assume that child labor only affects poor children in impoverished countries, but the truth is that age, race, ethnicity, and social class doesn't matter to the "employers". I also want to point out, once again, that this "employment" is BONDAGE SLAVERY in that the "employers", better labeled as the SLAVE MASTERS, force the children to continue working for them, and only them, until the children-- they are SLAVES-- repay their debt of food and shelter which continually accumulates to an impossible amount to reach. Such "employment" is considered illegal in virtually every country in the world yet it still continues each day.

Manipulated Thinking

"How are frames used to shape thinking about your issue? Is the public being manipulated by this issue or do they have an accurate picture of what's going on?"






Certainly most people have heard stories of child labor at some point. Probably the most heard is that of centuries ago and some cases in foreign countries, but most people are unaware of just how dangerous and exploitative the working conditions are. Most of those aware of modern child labor typically hold the belief that the children have began working to support their family, the worst conditions are those of climate and type of work, etc., they earn meager pay and that child labor only takes place in foreign countries such as Thailand and those of Africa,etc. While these assumptions do hold some truth, they completely ignore other crucial components of child labor. First, the biggest myth is that child labor only occurs in foreign countries. Many children are, in fact, trafficked into the United States with the promise of living "the American Dream", but are subject to living in confined spaces, doing domestic work in homes, working in brothels, and working in sweatshops. As sad as it is, the U.S. is a major offender like many other countries. Many people think it would be easy to spot such activity, but the fact is that the children can go unnoticed for months or years. Most frequently unknown, these children are subject to violent physical, verbal, and sexual abuse. When people hear the term "child labor", they think of children working in sweatshops for little pay. What happend to all the other cases of children hiden in people's homes, doing phsyical labor, not getting paid, being afraid to leave, and not knowing what to do? Why do we, as American citizens, only think of sweatshops? You would think that we would know about all the other cases.

Part of the problem is that sweatshops are what we most commonly hear about. Sure, we have heard things like "50 children were found to be working in a sweatshop in Malibu" once or so, but we do not hear about this happening in the U.S. and worldwide too often and when we do, we are appalled at such a thing-- and many times, we will then go out and buy a blouse from Forever 21 or a chocolate bar from the local grocery store. Most often, we don't even think about labor involved with the production of many things we love. I mean, many people don't think, "Maybe I shouldn't eat this Hershey's bar because it was most likely made through child labor on the Ivory Coast". No! People would never give up their chocolate (even though they purchase fair trade) or designer clothes! Maybe, it's just me, but I think people just choose not to know about such horrible things going on in the world. It's just easier to ignore; afterall, they don't see it happening. That's just it-- they don't see it happening! Child labor happens at every moment of everyday, and we rarely hear about it. Most people only know what is going on by watching the televised news broadcast which almost always focuses on things affecting a large portion of people directly and entertainment. People rely on what they are told, and most often, they are told little to nothing about this issue. While this is typical, there are still those out there physically investigating and campaigning to make people more aware; yet, these advocates work day in and day out to let as many people know about it and how to combat it, but most people find it sad and don't do anything about it. Sadly, many people are apathetic.

What Freedom Looks Like

"Using the readings, what is the definition of "free" that best applies to the issue your studying? What would "freedom" look like? What would be the best way of achieving a "free" outcome? The market or the polis?"

What does freedom look like? Freedom knows know no race. Freedom doesn't care whether you are young or old, rich or poor-- it is all the same to freedom. Freedom is good, and freedom is bad-- it gives you the opportunity to lead the life you want, but can also lead to the rebellion of a nation. All that matters is that freedom is had.

Is there even a clear definition? Yes and no. Freedom can be an ambiguous term in that it's definition is different in various places and for various people. Two definitions of freedom are that, in the market model, people must be free from restraint and harm and, in the polis model, people must have to ability to exercise their social rights. The market model believes that government should focus on civil liberties while the polis model believes that government should focus on civil rights; also, the market model believes that government is restraining while the polis model does not.

In regards to child labor, it is crucial that the polis model be applied. Government is the number one institution with the authority to remove children from child labor situations. Without government, organizations like the ILO would not be able to go in and inspect working conditions, etc. In fact, the ILO only finds the cases, then reports them to public officials who go in and remove the children. Being so young though, it is not safe for the children to be out on their own and they need the provided with material necessities, such as food, clothing, and a place to sleep, as well as an education and the opportunity to social with other children their own age so that they can be well-rounded and stable individuals.

These children deserve a multi-faceted type of freedom. They need to be able to enjoy what is left of their childhood, not have to fear returning to work for their "employer" (I still feel like it is too nice of a term-- these "employers" are essentially slave owners), get a proper education, make friends, socialize-- you name it! I want to see children playing outside, smiling and laughing, and the voice they dread to hear is their mother calling them to come home because it is getting dark out. I am sure you would love to see every child exemplifying this example, too-- really, who wouldn't? If that is the case, then why do we see young children working tirelessly, hour after hour, and praying that their owner doesn't find something wrong so he or she can verbally or physically abuse them? And why do we sit as there is a child on the other side of the world praying that his or her owner not bring him or her into the bedroom?

Hell, a lot of these children are trafficked into the United States through coercion; they are promised a job so they can help the family and are used as domestic help, but are also exploited. I remember reading a case like this once. A social worker had been called to a home in which domestic violence had taken place. A woman had started a fight with her husband because he had cheated on her; as the couple continued to talk, the social worker noticed a little girl hiding off to the side. However, when the social worker attempted to talk to the girl, she found out that she knew very little English and had been brought from a European country (I cannot recall which country, but I think it may have been a Scandinavian country) to work around the house. It occured to the social worker that the girl had suffered sexual abuse from the man, and when the wife saw, she called him a cheater and they got into a fight. Why must we wait for these scenarios to happen before we do something?

Nobody, and I mean nobody, deserves to be physically, verbally, or sexually abused-- this includes children AND adults. This is the number one criteria for the definition for these children's freedom. This in itself implies that these children must be free from physical harm, psychological and emotional harm, moral and spiritual harm, and phsyical as well as psychological restraints. These children should no longer have to suffer this torment or feel compelled to stay so they can help their family repay debt, keep a steady income if any going to their family or whatever else. In addition, these children need to be provided with the opportunity to excerise their social rights and protection of their civil rights.

As I mentioned in my last post, I believe that the best approach for helping these children is getting the government involved by removing the children and prosecuting the "employers" while the children are being rehabilitated. Freedom for these children is the promise of being in control of themselves and the chance to live a happy and healthy lifestyle.

Security

"Using the readings, what does a "secure" outcome look like for the policy issue you care about? What would be the best way of achieving "security" on the outcome? The market or the polis?"

By asking what a "secure" outcome looks like, we must first examine what needs must be met. What kind of needs? Biological? Social? Cultural? Self-esteem? Sense of belonging? Emotional? A great way to think of these needs is through Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.

Think about it! As a person of modern society, what level do you need to be at-- physiological, safety and security, love and belonging, self-esteem OR self-actualization? Like most others, you'd probably want to be at the top of Maslow's pyramid. And-- HEY-- you probably want to see everyone else you care about up there, too! Really, think about it; do you want to see your best friend barely make ends-meet or see your sister struggle with her self-esteem after she was raped? No! Of course not! You would love to see your friend finding supplemental income by creating and selling beautiful jewelry, and you wish to see your sister accept that her misfortune was not her fault and find her inner potential so that she can move on! Ideally, everyone in society should have the opportunity to reach self-actualization. So, I have to ask: what happens after child laborers are freed from bondage? Are we going to provide them with the resources to live a long and prosperous life, or are we going to simply send them on their merry way? How much do they need? What kind of needs should be met?

Looking at the recently freed child laborer, we see a (typically)emaciated little boy or girl with a frightened look onl his or her face. Look closely-- see the pain and loneliness in his or her eyes, catch a glimpse at the bruises and cuts from months or years of abuse, and above all, notice how easily this could have been your child. How would you react if you saw the face of your little boy or girl glaring right back at you? This is why we must act. We need to give these children food, shelter, water, an education, a supportive environment, and a future.

In regards to a secure outcome, we must simultaneously address the crimes of the "employer" (I personally think that we should not address this person as an employer-- that is not what he or she is doing. This person is taking on human capital, not hiring an employee!!! This person doesn't care about the children at all!!!!), rehabilitate the child, educate the child, ensure that the child not return to child labor, and that he or she is prepared for the future. Such a task is hard to accopmlish. The first thing we must do is gather as many people as possible to help. With so many child laborers in the world, we need to spread awareness, and recruit people to report activity which they suspect may be child labor-- the ILO works to investigate businesses worldwide, but they cannot sniff out child domestic labor being conducted within households-- and report it to the proper authorities. Don't be afraid to speak! Just make sure you have all the facts, and if you are uncomfortable, remain anonymous.

Once the child has been removed, rehabilitation and the legal process must begin immediately. As lawyers work to put the "employer" in jail, a rehabilitative team health professionals begin to assess the health of the child, looking at basic health standards and checking for illness. Next, the health professionals come up with a plan consisting of medical treatments (when necessary), dietary needs, and whatever else they deem necessary. This plan is passed onto the rehabilitative team working with the children on a daily basis to ensure the child's physiological needs are met. The child is also provided with clothing, a bed, and a warm meal at a rehabilitation center filled with other children of similar background. While the center is co-ed, each bedroom will be filled with a single gender; however the rooms would contain children of different ages to ensure that the older children could care for the younger children if wake up frightened from a nightmare. At first, I contemplated the idea of children staying in rooms with others of similar age and the same gender, but after thinking about how young the children could be, I wasn't comfortable with the idea of once abused five-year-olds frightened in a room alone.

At this center, the children are encouraged to play, interact, and develop relationships with one another. The children are provided with group and individual therapy so they can work through the terrible abuse they were forced to deal with. Likewise, the children in the center would be provided with a comprehensive education in which they learned reading, writing, mathematics, science, history, and art, etc. They would be able to achieve that which a child in the public education system could achieve. This center would also need to be able to allow the children the freedom they deserve-- they should be given options. A simple, but great example of this is giving the child a choice between class subjects to learn: the child could learn to sing and dance rather than draw and paint, or the child could learn about basic biology rather than basic geology. They are treated like every other child, bound by responsibilities and given options. The rehabilitation would act as a home, school, and everything else the child may need. However, to avoid institutionalization, the children will occasionally be taken out on trips in small groups.

While all this sounds great and fantastic, it is a very difficult outcome to achieve because it becomes so costly, involves so many people, and government officials do not take proactive measures to protect the children. As we progress toward the end of child labor, we need to establish more effective methods of enforcing legislation whether it be educating officials or ensuring ethical conduct by officials (i.e. officers getting sex or money for not reporting). Such a widespread issue, needing so much, requires an outcome grounded in the polis for it focuses on the better for everyone without anything in return.

You are not alone.... We want to help.

Efficiency

"Using the readings, what would an efficient outcome is the most efficient way to achieve a desired goal on the policy issues you care about? What would an efficient outcome look like? What would be the best way of achieving an efficient outcome? The market or the polis?"

While we are inclined to look for the most efficient solution to any problem, we must remember that Child Domestic Labor is a complex issue which requires a detailed action plan to end it. With this issue, there are many factors that must be addressed simultaneously, such as poverty, prosecution of the "employer", education of the child, and finding steady and fair employment for minors of working age-- just to name a few. This, in essence, requires a worldwide movement to improving living standards of the children of every country. First, let's look at the definition of efficiency:

"ef-fi-cien-cy:

–noun, plural -cies.
1.
the state or quality of being efficient; competency in performance.
2.
accomplishment of or ability to accomplish a job with a minimum expenditure of time and effort: The assembly line increased industry's efficiency.
3.
the ratio of the work done or energy developed by a machine, engine, etc., to the energy supplied to it, usually expressed as a percentage."

(courtesy of http://dictionary.reference.com/)

Examining the second definition of efficiency, which is considered the political definition of efficiency, we can conclude that the most efficient outcome would be that which accomplishes our goal in the least amount of time and effort. This is quite a difficult task to accomplish with such a complex issue, right? One group that aims to do this is The Global March Against Child Labour. The Global March works to develop high public awareness of the struggle of these children, and works with governments to dissolve child labor. The Global March regularly conducts activities educating the public, including events, advocacy, meetings and campaigns. Probably, one of the most effective ways Global March works against child labor is its alliance with organizations such as the ILO, Child Labor Coalition (CLC), Global Task Force on Child Labour and Education, etc. Generally, the most crucial part of human rights advocacy is the number of people involved-- the more people, the better. Take for example, the women's rights movement in the United States was most successful once it built up its resevoir of supporters. In this example, women had little to no say in anything; however, there voices accumulated into one voice that could not be ignored. Perhaps, voices coming together to send out on single message is a crucial part to solving any human rights issues; afterall, we see the same happen with black people during Martin Luther King, Jr.'s time. Plus, with all of its organizations involved, Global March has different groups working on different aspects of the issue. While it is difficult to come up with an eficient outcome, the best that we can do is spread the word and assign different groups and issues to specific parts of an issue. While a few years old, a great source on Global March's activities is Report of Activities and Outcomes (April 2006-September 2006) which can be found at: http://www.globalmarch.org/resourcecentre/PHotos/GMACLNarrative06.pdf.

Focusing on one aspect of this issue, we can efficiently educate people about child labor through email messages, ads in the newspapers and online, tell our friends and families, organize local events, and create websites, etc. There are so many ways we can spread the information, and it is most efficient if we use multiple sources to let others know. Plus, with the increased awareness, we could reach those who have the compassion and ability to make change; thus; it could lead to a quicker response! Using the polis, we can persuade the public to realize that we need everyone's help by suggesting what it would feel like if they knew that their own children were subject to such exploitation and questioning them about how they would react... And, when they mention how upset they would be and that they would do anything in their power to end it, we would challenge them by asking, "If you wouldn't let this happen to your child, why do you let it happen to someone else's child? What if you were the mother or father who couldn't do anything about it? Wouldn't you want someone to step in?" By challenging the public, we give the message that by not taking action they are, in fact, negatively affecting the welfare of the public as a whole. Also, in challenging the public, we fill them with the concern about the possibility of being in the shoes of the child's parents. Therefore, we must educate and trigger the emotions of the public to achieve an efficient outcome.

What is "Fair"?

'Using the readings from the last two class sessions, think about what an equitable outcome would look like for the issues you care about. What does a "fair" outcome look like for the issue you're working on. What would be the best way to achieve fairness? The market or the polis?'



A key component that sets child domestic labor apart from domestic labor done by children is exploitation. As a complicated issue, there is a fine line between what could be considered legal and illegal; that is to say, these two forms of labor share a majority of their characteristics. However, when it comes to child domestic labor, children are too easily exposed to a various forms of exploitation and abuse.



According to the ILO:



'From an international law perspective, children who have reached the minimum working age in their country but are below 18 and are “legitimately” involved in domestic service are entitled to the rights guaranteed both by labour laws and standards, and by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. When they are working under exploitative conditions or are under the legal minimum working age they are recognised as child domestic workers, and in some cases they are considered to be in one of the worst forms of child labour, against which specific instruments and provisions have been adopted. As noted above, given its hidden nature and the characteristics of the employment relationship it is very difficult to draw the line between “legitimate domestic work” and its exploitative forms. In fact, evidence shows that in most countries children involved in domestic service are largely involved in what has been previously defined as “child domestic labour”.
Since the early 1930s, the ILO has been able to address the situation of child domestic labour in its most severe forms through its Forced Labour Convention (No.29) that addressed forced and compulsory labour for both children and adults.
With the adoption of the Minimum Age Convention (No.138) in 1973 and the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (No.182) in 1999, the Organisation has two fundamental international instruments to frame its policy and action response. The implementation of these Conventions is a key starting point to target child domestic labour and eradicate its worst forms. Under these Conventions governments are called on to commit to action and implement specific measures to eliminate child labour. Monitoring and follow up mechanisms are also in place to evaluate a country’s compliance to its international obligations as enumerated in the Conventions. Such mechanisms include periodic reports by Governments, reports to the Committee of Experts by workers and employer’s organisations, and the revision of individual cases by the annual International Labour Conference.
Convention No.138 requires the adoption of national policies for the effective abolition of child labour and a specific minimum age for the admission to employment. The enforcement of this Convention, particularly as far as domestic labour is concerned, is the main challenge since this sector is often excluded from the coverage of the Convention and from national labour laws.
Although it does not explicitly define child domestic labour as a worst form of child labour, Convention No.182, ratified by 163 countries as of 2006, includes a number of important provisions that are applicable to it. It calls on governments to implement effective time-bound measures to eliminate the worst forms of child labour, undertake action programmes to prevent it, promote and support reintegration of child workers into their communities and families, provide access to free education, identify children at special risk with a view to protecting them and, particularly relevant for child domestic labour, it gives special attention to the vulnerabilities of the girl-child.
Both Conventions encourage countries to compile a list of hazardous child labour and many countries have included domestic labour in the list.
The ILO, through its International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), works in support of government efforts to fulfil international commitments under these Conventions. It encourages countries to adopt a set of strategies at the national level that aim at creating an enabling environment to eliminate child labour and at withdrawing and preventing children from being engaged in it. The Time-Bound Programme (TBP) approach is one means of implementing this. It comprises a set of integrated and coordinated policies and interventions with clear goals, specific targets and a defined time frame, aimed at preventing and eliminating a country’s worst forms of child labour.'

http://www.ilo.org/ipec/areas/Childdomesticlabour/lang--en/index.htm

Some things that these children must face include:

• long, exhausting days
• exposure to harsh chemicals
• carrying heavy loads
• using dangerous objects, such as hot pans, knives, etc.
• insufficient amounts of food and accommodation
• cruel and humiliating behavior, including verbal, physical and sexual abuse

In regards to a fair outcome, the ultimate outcome would be the elimination of child domestic labor-- it is essentially a form of slavery. I am sure everyone would love to see these children out playing with other children their own age, except for the person forcing labor upon the child of course. How would you feel if you saw your child struggling to survive as he or she served someone who regularly degraded him or her and didn't provide adequate living conditions? Exactly, you most likely wouldn't allow this to happen-- so why do we let this happen to other children, here, in the United States as well as the rest of the world. But the real question is: how do we go about changing this? Well there are many things we can do. Now, I am not saying, in any way, that this problem can be changed overnight; actually, it could take as long as decades to change this-- that is how big of an issue this is. Essentially, we would use the Polis in diminishing child domestic labor.

The four major things that could be done are:

1. Education
2. Child Labor Monitoring (continually checking the places where young boys and girls work for exploitation and hazards)
3. Labor Inspections (checks for possible hazards and that workers are of the minimum legal working age as well as protected-- it also refers unacceptable settings, conditions, and treatment to the proper authorities)
4. Time-Bound Programs (called upon by the ILO Convention No. 182 to take immediate action in the worst child domestic labor cases)

"Countries ratifying this Convention must take immediate and effective measures to secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour as a matter of urgency, including time-bound measures to:

• prevent the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour;
• provide direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour and for their rehabilitation and social integration;
• ensure access to free basic education and appropriate vocational training for all children removed from the worst forms of child labour;
• identify and reach out to children at special risk; and
• take account of the special situation of girls."

http://www.ilo.org/ipec/Action/Time-BoundProgrammes/lang--en/index.htm

"Education is the Key to our Future...."

In an article on the ILO's website (http://www.ilo.org/), the author states,

"Experience shows that a combination of economic growth, respect for labour standards, universal education and social protection, together with a better understanding of the needs and rights of children, can bring about a significant reduction in child labour. Child labour is a stubborn problem that, even if overcome in certain places or sectors, will seek out opportunities to reappear in new and often unanticipated ways. The response to the problem must be as versatile and adaptable as child labour itself. There is no simple, quick fix for child labour, nor a universal blueprint for action."

The IPEC attempts to address the issue of child domestic labor through the use of "research and statistics, technical co-operation, a monitoring and evaluation unit, advisory services and advocacy, and an education unit." Thus far, the IPEC has proven successful in the prevention and rehabilitation of former child domestic laborers in a formal and informal setting.

Welcome

Welcome to my Blog! I am glad you are taking the time to read the information I will be presenting in the near future. Truthfully, the original intent for this blog was to present and respond to a contemporary issue for my POLS 207 class, but after discovering that I could discuss an important issue that I had already been researching, I realized that this would be a great resource to keep my research organized in a clear format. Having never created a blog before, I didn't consider the possibility of using a blog to share my concerns. I am hoping to use this blog for class as well as my own personal use. While there are many forms of dramatically unfair, I am using this blog to focus on one of the most hidden forms, child domestic labor. (I also research other forms of unfair labor, slavery, human trafficking, and things of that sort, but I believe that is too much to cover in one blog alone-- I would like to eventually create other blogs in which I address these other issues) When it comes to child domestic labor, the young laborers often go unnoticed as they work for little to no pay in, most often, unsuitable conditions. These children are placed in these situations through human trafficking, kidnapping, neglect, abandonment, and needing to support their families. Not only are they forced to work for unruly employers, but they are often victims of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse. Thanks again for visiting my blog! I will be conducting weekly updates.

--Sara

Would you allow this to happen to your own children or children that you know???