Afterword The end of child slavery?
-
Kevin Bales
Abstract
Given the breadth, depth, and horror of child slavery to be found in this book, how can it be eradicated? There are two key reasons. The first has to do with trends within child labour generally. In 2006, the International Labour Office published its second Global Report on child labour, which indicated that child work was declining. The report pointed out that these actions rest on a growing international consensus that child labour must be radically reduced. This idea of a global consensus highlights the second key reason why the eradication of child slavery can be seen as possible: the understanding that just such ‘tipping points’ apply to slavery, and child slavery, as well. Ending slavery is possible due to favourable social, political, and economic factors. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights places freedom from slavery at the top of the list of fundamental rights. In addition, laws against slavery are already in place in many countries. Another reason is related to economics; for example, freed slaves are more productive and consume more than they did in slavery.
Abstract
Given the breadth, depth, and horror of child slavery to be found in this book, how can it be eradicated? There are two key reasons. The first has to do with trends within child labour generally. In 2006, the International Labour Office published its second Global Report on child labour, which indicated that child work was declining. The report pointed out that these actions rest on a growing international consensus that child labour must be radically reduced. This idea of a global consensus highlights the second key reason why the eradication of child slavery can be seen as possible: the understanding that just such ‘tipping points’ apply to slavery, and child slavery, as well. Ending slavery is possible due to favourable social, political, and economic factors. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights places freedom from slavery at the top of the list of fundamental rights. In addition, laws against slavery are already in place in many countries. Another reason is related to economics; for example, freed slaves are more productive and consume more than they did in slavery.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- Acknowledgements and dedication vii
- Notes on contributors viii
- List of abbreviations xiii
- List of boxes, figures, tables and photos xv
- Introduction: Child slavery worldwide 1
-
Strategic overviews
- Child slavery today 21
- Constructing the international legal framework 43
- Just out of reach: the challenges of ending the worst forms of child labour 61
- Child domestic labour: a global concern 81
- Child trafficking: a modern form of slavery 99
- Clarity and consistency in understanding child exploitation: a UK perspective 117
- A human rights approach to preventing child sex trafficking 133
- Child rights, culture and exploitation: UK experiences of child trafficking 145
-
Themes, issues and case studies
- Preventing child trafficking in India: the role of education 163
- Birth registration: a tool for prevention, protection and prosecution 175
- ‘Bienvenue chez les grands!’: young migrant cigarette vendors in Marseille 189
- Child domestic labour: fostering in transition? 203
- Extreme forms of child labour in Turkey 215
- Haliya and kamaiya bonded child labourers in Nepal 227
- Sex trafficking in Nepal 243
- The role of the arts in resisting recruitment as child soldiers and ‘wives’: experience from Uganda and Nepal 257
- International adoption and child trafficking in Ecuador 271
- Child slavery in South and South East Asia 285
- Routes to child slavery in Central America 297
- Resources 307
- The end of child slavery? 317
- Index 327
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- Acknowledgements and dedication vii
- Notes on contributors viii
- List of abbreviations xiii
- List of boxes, figures, tables and photos xv
- Introduction: Child slavery worldwide 1
-
Strategic overviews
- Child slavery today 21
- Constructing the international legal framework 43
- Just out of reach: the challenges of ending the worst forms of child labour 61
- Child domestic labour: a global concern 81
- Child trafficking: a modern form of slavery 99
- Clarity and consistency in understanding child exploitation: a UK perspective 117
- A human rights approach to preventing child sex trafficking 133
- Child rights, culture and exploitation: UK experiences of child trafficking 145
-
Themes, issues and case studies
- Preventing child trafficking in India: the role of education 163
- Birth registration: a tool for prevention, protection and prosecution 175
- ‘Bienvenue chez les grands!’: young migrant cigarette vendors in Marseille 189
- Child domestic labour: fostering in transition? 203
- Extreme forms of child labour in Turkey 215
- Haliya and kamaiya bonded child labourers in Nepal 227
- Sex trafficking in Nepal 243
- The role of the arts in resisting recruitment as child soldiers and ‘wives’: experience from Uganda and Nepal 257
- International adoption and child trafficking in Ecuador 271
- Child slavery in South and South East Asia 285
- Routes to child slavery in Central America 297
- Resources 307
- The end of child slavery? 317
- Index 327
