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SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN

© Linda Little

As civilised people we are justifiably proud of our child labour laws. We know, from history lessons that there were times in our past when children worked in terrible conditions in factories and mines. As right minded people, we are horrified by these tales. We also know that historically children were sold as slaves, or born into slavery, and the very thought of this makes us shudder. A child in a life of bondage and servitude at a time when he or she should be experiencing life to the full is repugnant.

So, why am I writing this article? I am writing to tell you that the horror of these things is not only historic. In many countries, in many parts of the world, children still suffer these conditions. They are still sold into slavery, work terrible hours in dangerous conditions or are used for the sexual gratification of tourists and perverts.

You may "tut tut" and sympathise, feeling moral indignation that other counties have not looked after their children as we have done. You may see it as nothing to do with you. In this article, I want to encourage you to look deeper. Sometimes our own lifestyles promote such ill-treatment of children. Here are some of the ways that this happens.

Cheap Goods

My grandmother told me that thing that were too cheap to be believable often had hidden costs. I think in this case she meant that if you bought a cheap outfit or cheap shoes they would not last. However, sometimes we can get incredibly cheap articles and they appear to be very good value. What, then, is the hidden cost?

Well, it could be one of a number of things:

1. The adults who make these items could be paid so poorly that they have to use their children's labour to provide for their families.
   
2. The product may be produced by child working long hours in dangerous conditions.
   
3. Even worse, the product could be made by child slaves.

'Personal' Services

Another obvious abuse of children is in the sex industry. In some poor third world countries children are encouraged to be part of the services offered to rich tourists. Even in so-called civilised counties of Europe and America, run-aways very often find themselves lured into trading sex for security. Meanwhile, the Internet has only added to the market for child pornography.

Children for Sale

Finally there is the immoral trade in babies. I realise that the inability to have a child may be heartbreaking. When there are so few babies for adoption in civilised countries it seems the perfect opportunity to offer a third world child a good home and lifestyle, even if you have to pay "corrupt officials" sizeable sums to ensure that the adoption procedure is facilitated. Unfortunately, those very payments may encourage abuse. Those unloved orphans might well be either kidnapped babies or loved children dragged from unwilling parents in exchange for debts that the whole family has incurred.

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