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Youth Delegates Chosen to Represent U.S. at Children’s World Congress on Child Labor

Media Opportunity: Youth Delegates in Washington, DC for Pre-event Meeting March 4-7

Release Date: March 19, 2004
Contact: 202-835-3323, media@nclnet.org

WASHINGTON , D.C. — Six American youth have been selected through a competitive national process and named U.S. delegates at the first-ever Children’s World Congress on Child Labor, scheduled for May 10-13 in Florence, Italy. Participants face a daunting problem, in which nearly three-quarters of the world’s 246 million working children are trapped in the worst forms of child labor, including slavery and forced labor, child prostitution and pornography, participation in drug trafficking, and other harmful occupations. The six young women hail from six different states and offer varying backgrounds, ranging from child laborer experience to leadership as advocates against child labor.

 “We are very proud of the delegates chosen to represent American young workers and youth advocates,” said Linda Golodner, co-chair of the Child Labor Coalition, which leads U.S. participation in the international event. Golodner is president of the National Consumers League, the organization that coordinates the CLC (stopchildlabor.org). “This is a unique event by children, for children. It’s youth speaking up and advocating on behalf of their peers who are trapped in misery.”

Blanca, 17, Hillsboro , Ore.

Kimberly, 16, Hayward , Calif.

Kendra, 14, Iowa City , Iowa

Emily, 15, Newtown , Conn.

Dora, 15, Eagle Pass , Texas

Maura, 15, Syracuse , NY

Children who’ve suffered from exploitation will join youth activists to speak on behalf of the world’s exploited children at the first-ever event. As many as 500 youth are expected to converge at the Palazzo dei Congressi in Florence, Italy, from May 10-12, when they will meet and discuss the growing worldwide youth movement against child labor and question the commitment of political and government representatives, trade unions, national and international institutions, and non-governmental organizations to ending the exploitation of children in the workplace.

At the congress, children will participate as speakers, decision-makers, and beneficiaries. They will attend youth-led workshops and sessions to facilitate the development of a Children’s Action Plan for eliminating child labor and ensuring the goals of “Education for All.” The objectives of the congress are: to share and consolidate strategies to eliminate child labor; to remind the international community about the promises made to put an end to child labor; and to put children’s rights as a priority of the world’s agenda.

The congress is organized by the Global March Against Child Labor, a civil society movement that is active in 144 countries. Established in 1998, Global March works to promote access to free and quality education for all children and to end child labor exploitation.

American participation in the congress was made possible by the support of the following organizations and individuals, who provided funding to cover travel expenses for the six young delegates and their chaperones: The Ramsay-Merriam Fund; American Federation of School Administrators; American Federation of Teachers; Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs; National Consumers League; National Education Association; Women’s Division, Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church; and Claire White.

For more information about the Congress, visit www.globalmarch.org/worldcongress and www.globalmarch.it. For more information about the U.S. delegation, visit www.stopchildlabor.org/cwc.

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