- Title: Former Aussie PM says Delhi summit aims to mobilise support to end child slavery
- Date: 10th December 2016
- Summary: NEW DELHI, INDIA (FILE-JUNE 12, 2015) (REUTERS) PEOPLE SITTING AMID GARBAGE A CHILD STANDING WITH A TOY CHILDREN PLAYING OUTSIDE THEIR HUTS
- Embargoed: 25th December 2016 08:48
- Keywords: Julia Gillard New Delhi children education Nobel laureates Kailash Satyarthi Dalai Lama children rights
- Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA
- City: NEW DELHI, INDIA
- Country: India
- Reuters ID: LVA0065CAVJ2D
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the summit in New Delhi aims to trigger a world-wide campaign in support of children and their rights.
Gillard is among the host of public figures and Nobel laureates, including Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who will take part in the Laureates and Leaders for Children 2016 Summit on Saturday (December 10) and Sunday (December 11), organised by 2014 Nobel peace prize winner Kailash Satyarthi.
"I think what we are seeking to achieve is a strong global voice in support of children and children's rights. My particular focus is on the right of every child to a quality education," said Gillard, who is also chair of the Global Partnership for Education.
There are 168 million child labourers across the world, with more than half involved in hazardous work in sectors such as agriculture, mining, construction, manufacturing and services, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Despite the fact that many people believe slavery no longer exists, the ILO estimates that 5.5 million of these children are enslaved, born into servitude, trafficked for sex work, or trapped in debt bondage or forced labour.
Gillard said education would be the key to free the world's most deprived children from the clutches of slavery.
"I think that there is a dynamic relationship here (between slavery and education). I think children who are in school are likely to have some protective factors around them, which means it is less likely that they will be trafficked or drawn into slavery style situations and for the children who do, get rescued from those situations, and of course, we got to double and double again our efforts to make sure children who are in those dreadful circumstances get helped. But, if they do get helped, then part of that package of assistance has to be a pathway to a different life, and education is that pathway," she said.
Research from the Education Commission, a global organization, says developing countries should increase expenditure on education to nearly 6 percent of their Gross Domestic Product by 2030.
It also shows that by 2030 there will be 1.6 billion young people globally, yet on current trends, half of them - 800 million - will not receive a secondary level education. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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