Terre des Hommes manifesto: No more child labour by 2029
From everyday household products to make-up, laptops and batteries, there is a good chance that child hands have been involved in the supply chain. Despite the United Nations' commitment to eliminate child labour by 2025, there are still 160 million children worldwide working, half of them in harsh and unhealthy conditions. That is why Terre des Hommes is presenting a manifesto with a new goal to which politicians and businesses should commit: No more child labour by 2029!
Sad conclusion
According to Julie Verhaar, CEO of Terre des Hommes Netherlands, it is a sad conclusion that we are not going to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal ('SDG') 8.7 - global elimination of child labour by 2025. Verhaar: "And not just this goal, we have been talking about ending child labour for many years now." According to Verhaar, there needs to be greater commitment among politicians and companies. Verhaar: "Hence also our manifesto, in which we ask politicians, companies but also consumers, to sign it. Eliminating child labour is only possible if we all work together: governments, companies, CSOs and consumers."
Manifesto
In the manifesto, which will be shared among politicians and businesses in Asia, East Africa and Europe, Terre des Hommes sets the goal that by 2029, all supply chains of products and raw materials will be free of child labour. The manifesto also lists a number of measures to help get to the goal. For example, the government should make ending child labour a spearhead and mention it during trade missions. And companies map out where (possible) child labour takes place in their chains and take appropriate action to eliminate this.
Join!
According to Julie Verhaar, now really is the time to banish child labour once and for all: "We call on Dutch politicians, businesses and the public to sign this manifesto. Because every child deserves a future to develop and fulfil their dreams - to truly be a child."
You can sign or more about the manifesto here.