World Day Against Child Labor 2020
World Day Against Child Labor (WDACL) is June 12, 2020 and this year focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on child labor. To commemorate this occasion, through the end of June 2020, GoodWeave and our partners, Studio_M, are sharing information that highlights new challenges presented by the pandemic to ending child labor; steps governments, NGOs, brands and consumers can take to ensure it is kept out of the supply chain; and stories of rescued children.
Explore the resources below and get involved. Together we can make a difference!
WATCH OUR NEW FILM
At our June 10, 2020 virtual event, we unveiled a new film by Studio_M, entitled Hem Moktan: He Made It. The film centers on the inspirational story of a former child laborer from Nepal, Hem Moktan, who now works for GoodWeave on the frontlines, protecting children from similar situations. The film is available in both short (5-minute) and long (14-minute) versions. Watch Hem Moktan: He Made It.
VIEW OUR JUNE 10, 2020 EVENT RECORDING
If you missed our virtual event in honor of World Day Against Child Labor 2020, you can still view the recording. Watch our expert panel discussion on “COVID-19 and Child Labor: New Challenges and Steps to Ensure Protections for At-Risk Populations in the Supply Chain” and more. Learn about the event and watch now.
READ “THE STORY OF HEM MOKTAN: 152 MILLION CHILDREN AROUND THE GLOBE LABOR IN BONDAGE”
To be a hero is to take a risk. Hem Moktan does this every day, facing his brutal past as an enslaved child. He is featured in the documentary film Hem Moktan: He Made It, that debuted on June 10, 2020, to mark this year’s World Day Against Child Labor. I first met Hem 20 years ago. During production this past February, I spent time with him in Kathmandu and learned more details of his life. Read the blog by GoodWeave’s CEO, Nina Smith, here.
INSIST ON THE GOODWEAVE LABEL
Support businesses that proactively work to stop child labor in their supply chains. Find brands and retailers that sell carpets and home goods carrying the GoodWeave® label, which means no child labor was used and a percentage of the purchase price supports children’s education, here.
READ “FRAGILE FUTURES FOR HIDDEN WORKERS WHEN CONSUMERS STOP BUYING”
With demand for toilet paper and other household items in the headlines, the COVID-19 crisis has made supply chains news, highlighting what disruptions mean to consumers, companies, and workers. This story of a little girl and her village calls attention to the world’s largest labor force—informal workers. Their exploitation, namely child, forced and bonded labor, drives intergenerational poverty. Read the blog by GoodWeave’s CEO, Nina Smith, here.
READ SUMITRA’S STORY
Sumitra’s parents wanted to enroll her in school in Kathmandu, but they were unable to bear the cost of admission and other educational expenses. Instead of going to school, Sumitra began to do some household work, and soon, she was weaving alongside her relatives in a factory. Thanks to GoodWeave, Sumitra is now back in school and dreaming of becoming a nurse. Read her story here.
VIEW GULAFSA’S STORY
Gulafsa is a former child laborer who was identified by a GoodWeave inspector while working in a factory in India. She is now in school with dreams of one day becoming a fashion designer or doctor. View the film here.
