World Vision launches campaign to end child slavery

By Beth Hiemstra  |  Thursday, May 10, 2012

Photo by White Ribbons, Flickr.

MISSISSAUGA, ON—World Vision Canada is launching a three-year campaign focused on putting an end to child slavery.

Help Wanted: End Child Slavery focuses on children who are pushed, forced or trafficked into "3D" jobs—dirty, dangerous, and degrading.

Half of all human trafficking victims are children, according to estimates by the International Labour Organization. For each one that is forced into prostitution, nine others are trafficked into places like factories, boats, mines and farms.

"We're trying to offer Canadians, whether as consumers or as citizens or as Christians, a way to take positive action on child slavery, and restore some of these unjust relationships," says Carleen McGuinty, child protection policy advisor at World Vision Canada.

The campaign raises awareness, but also points to specific actions Canadians can take to influence the lives of children. Churches can learn about and pray for trafficked children on June 10, as part of an Abolitionist Sunday. Resources, such as a Bible study guide and fact sheets, are online at endchildslavery.ca.

Churches can also ensure they are not supporting exploitative labour in the coffee and tea they provide after services. The Abolitionist Sunday guide suggests a first step for churches is to buy ethically certified tea and coffee.

"As consumers, we're actually driving the demand for kids to be pushed into these 3D jobs," says McGuinty. "We have the power to change that if we just ask for different kinds of products, different kinds of consumer goods."

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