Matsumoto

Children who have worked by adults~ The Things that We Can Do Right Now ~

Mari Matsumoto

Temple University Academic English ProgramGraduate Prep Academic Skill 2Kristofer KentMarch 4, 2012

AbstractThere are many problems contradictory to the wealth in capitalism. The issues are often neglected because there are many people who make a profit by perverted capitalism and liberalism. Slavery is one of those problems which need to be solved immediately.

IntroductionThe history of slavery is lasting extremely long and it exists in the modern times. It is said that slavery started during ancient ages. Aristotle said slaves are living tools and defense the thought of slavery. In the modern times, slavery is banned in many countries starting with prohibition by the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rightsand the 1956UN Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery. Slavery is sometimes thought the relic of the past. However, it still exists in the present day in an ingenious manner. Despite slavery is prohibited, it is overlooked and doesnt come into light. CNN defines the meaning of slavery, in their website, that Slavery occurs when one person completely controls another person, using violence or the threat of violence to maintain that control, exploits them economically, pays them nothing and they cannot walk away. (CNN, para. 2) Slavery of children or the exploitation of child labor is still a controversial issue. These problems should be solved immediately for human rights although it takes tolerably a lot of time and effort. This paper discusses what we can do or need to do for this problem, and try to search the clue to a solution. The paper divided into three aspects; Modern slavery and the actuality, the importance of NGO and international organization, and governments approach. Modern Slavery and the ActualityIt is necessary to reveal the actuality and what modern slavery is so that it helps to understand that the problem is complicated and perseverant to solve. It is said that, in the modern-day slavery, many enormous companies are involved in slavery even though they are in a position to return the wealth to society. Children are often picked up as the victims of forced labor by the traffickers. In particular, in the countries where the poverty is the main problem, for example, some of the South Asian and African countries, the trafficking and child slavery is a serious problem. According to professor Shimoyama, there are many international companies which operate with the forced labor of underage children. (p.92) Child labors are forced working for a long time and living in the poor environment. In Shimoyamas research, there are many companies in various fields that are related to child slavery. Cited as follows, the cacao plantation is the one of the typical and well-known examples. The slavery in cacao plantations already started in 16th century. In Ivory Coast, Ghana or Nigeria, the children, who were sold and brought from Mali or Burkina Faso, are still forced to harvest the plants in servitude. In connection with this cacao slavery, the route of trafficking was organized and it still exists in 20th century (P.116-117). This issue was sometimes raised as a world problem in some media. CNN is also broadcasting the documentary, Chocolates Child Slaves in their project, the CNN freedom project, in January, 2012. (CNN, Chocolate Childs Slavery, 2012) CNN also show in the documentary, the children are continuing to work without knowing chocolate is produced by cacao. It is said that two of American chocolate companies, Hersheys and M&M master foods, monopolize the most of this enterprise. The fact that the children received the wealth cannot be shown despite they invest and operate their factories around the Ivory Coast (p.128-129). The Importance of NGO and other ActivitiesAlthough the situation of child slavery is critical, it should be researched and the clue of solution should be found immediately. For the solution, non-governmental organization (NGO), non-profit organization or international activities play important roles in recent years. Referred to the multinational companies, similar to the chocolate giants, it is said that they often have a connection with the government. Therefore the governmental help cant be easily expected. For these reasons, it is important that NGO and the international organization, for example, UNICEF, Amnesty international, International Labor Organization (ILO), and some other organizations, work to the government and society. In addition, some companies show approbation and take action to help the related organization or for fund. According to CNN, Google Inc. is providing $11.5 million to 10 organizations which working for anti-slavery and trafficking. (Google joins fight against slavery, 2011)Governments ApproachOften the government turns a blind eye to the reality because it is said the authorities have connections to the trafficker. In fact, governments dont recognize the problem is serious unless there is NGO or other organizations persevering action. The government hasnt taken action until the problem was pointed out. In the case of girls trafficking in India and Nepal, Hasegawa is writing with her research that the Indias government doesnt have contract with other organizations or governments for the human trafficking. The NPO, Laligurans Japan said, the number of Nepalese girls who are sold to India run to 7,000 from 5,000 in a year. ( In addition, due to the lack of education or understanding for the crime in the society and the people, the victims tend to be tormented with engagement in the prostitution. At the same time, there is discrimination to the victims who were forced to work for prostitution even among the Indias police or governmental office. For the solution, the government may have to change their current law and invest the system to support the victims. What We Can Do for the Problems

Conclusion

ReferenceShimoyama, A. (2009, March 20). Sekai shohin to kodomo no dorei (Worlds goods and Child slavery) (pp. 56-258), Tokyo: Minerva Shobo.Hasegawa, M. (2007, November 30). Shojo Baibai (Girls trafficking). (pp. 100-104), Tokyo: Kobunsha.CNN, the CNN freedom project: Chocolate Childs Slavery (2012, January 20) http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/12/chocolates-child-slaves/ The Facts: Slavery, human trafficking definitions (2011, April 20) http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/20/the-facts-slavery-human-trafficking-definitions/, Google joins fight against slavery (2011, December 14) http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/14/google-joins-fight-against-slavery/Laligurans Japan, Overview of human trafficking in Nepal, Tokyo. http://www.laligurans.org/10shoujyobaibai.html