Children in slavery!

Despite the fact that many people believe that slavery no longer exists, the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimated that there are some 8.4 million children in slavery or practices similar to slavery (ILO,2002).

They are all in child slavery, as defined by the 1956 UN Supplementary Slavery Convention.  In these cases, as well as being in a hazardous situation, there is an intention to exploit these children for someone else’s gain. This group of children includes:

• Children who are used by others who profit from them, often through violence, abuse and threats, in prostitution or pornography , illicit activities, such as forced begging, petty theft, and the drug trade;
• Forced child labour, for example in agriculture, factories, construction, brick kilns, mines, bars, restaurants or tourists environment
• Children who are forced to take part in armed conflict. They don't only include child soldiers but also porters or girls taken as “wives” for soldiers and militia members. There are about 300,000 child soldiers involved in over 30 areas of conflict worldwide, some even younger than 10 years old. Children involved in conflict are severely affected by their experiences and can suffer from long-term trauma.
• Child domestic workers, many of whom are forced to work long hours, in hazardous and often abusive environments, for little or no pay, and often far from home

Source: child_labour