Consumerism breeds child trafficking

by Farlina Zailanni

April 10, 2008

CHILD trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry that is the backbone of Western consumerism, a World Vision Youth Official says.

“As Western consumers, we are responsible for this demand for child labour,” Leanne Jayaseela told 30 youth advocates in Perth on April 9. “World Vision estimates between 45 to 100 million children below 14 are working in abusive conditions.”

Ms Jayaseela was speaking at the WA launch of the “Don’t Trade Lives”.

She said child trafficking contributed to most products used daily, and the global demand for cheaper goods was the main cause.

In a recent trip to India, she saw children living in conditions that were “hard to justify”.

According to World Vision, kids are often made to collect rubbish, bonded to factory owners, forced into armed combat, or thrust into the sex industry.

 “Some of the children I met there were sold by their parents for as little as 15 dollars,” ms Jayaseela said.

She acknowledged desperation for money was often why parents sold their own kin.

“An education is the best doorway out of poverty for [the parents],” she said. “Most of, if not all, the beaded and embroidered goods that come out of India are products of child labour.”

Ms Jayaseela said a simple switch to fair trade products would help.

 “If the demand for ethically-produced goods increases, then the need for child labour will be consequently reduced,” she added. “So many people don’t know that [child trafficking] exists.”