| WFTO joins Uzbek cotton boycott, observance of World Day Against Child Labour |
| 17 December 2009 | |
The World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) joins the boycott of Uzbek cotton amid reports of Uzbekistani government’s refusal to stop organized forced child labour and adapt international labour standards in the country's cotton industry. Forcing tens of thousands of Uzbek students to harvest cotton in the fields instead of attending school is unacceptable. We call on sellers and retailers to stop buying cotton from Forming part of WFTO’s 10 Principles of Fair Trade , the respect to the rights of children should be paramount to our choice when selling or buying. There is no justification to denying children of their rights to attend school and prepare for their future. WFTO understands that cotton is a major product of WFTO denounces the use of Child Labour in the cotton industry around the world. This shameful practice of using children to harvest cotton instead of sending them to school, play or enjoy their childhood is also rampant in India, Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Egypt, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Cotton traders are urged not to buy cotton picked by children’s hands. We call on buyers to investigate how the cotton products are produced, and to refuse such products if produced by child labour. Today, on the occasion of the World Day Against Child Labour, the Fair Trade movement joins the International Labor Organization - International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour’s (ILO-IPEC) call to end all forms of child labour and bring schoolchildren to their classrooms. We recognize that not all work participated by children are harmful. Child work that does not interfere children’s schooling and harm their health and growth maybe even beneficial. But child labour and its worst forms are not acceptable. We appeal for the respect of Fair Trade Principles in the cotton and other industries. We appeal countries allowing child labour to stop this shameful practice and to start adapting and enforcing international labour standards and human rights treaties. Stop buying cotton produced by child labour! Be intentional about what you buy. Ask your favorite fashion brands about the origin of the cotton fabric in their clothing products. Be Fair in fashion. Support Fair Trade Fashion. |
