• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
  • Advertising
  • CR Radio
  • Printing
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Children work inside an embroidery shop in Multan, Pakistan, in this June 12, 2003, file photo. Child labor exploitation is rooted in poverty, scandalous inequality and lack of opportunities that protect human dignity, Pope Francis wrote in a message to a global conference on the fight against child labor May 17, 2022. (CNS photo/Asim Tanveer, Reuters)

Poverty driving children into forced labor must be tackled, pope says

May 17, 2022
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service
Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, Feature, News, Vatican, World News

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Poverty and inequality, which are major factors in child labor exploitation, must be addressed, Pope Francis said in a written message.

“Sadly, too many small hands are busy plowing fields, working in mines, traveling great distances to draw water and doing work that prevents them from attending school, to say nothing of the crime of child prostitution, which is robbing millions of children of the joy of their youth and their God given dignity,” the pope wrote in a message to a global conference against child labor.

“Since poverty is, in fact, the chief factor that exposes children to labor exploitation, I am confident that your deliberations will not fail to address the structural causes of global poverty and the scandalous inequality that continues to exist among the members of the human family,” the pope told conference participants.

Pope Francis’ message was addressed to Guy Ryder, director-general of the International Labor Organization, on the occasion of the fifth Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labor being held May 15-20 in Durban, South Africa. Archbishop Peter B. Wells, apostolic nuncio of South Africa, read the pope’s message to the assembly May 16.

Sending his “warm greetings and prayerful good wishes” to those attending the conference, the pope said he hoped the conference would raise awareness and promote a commitment to combating the problem of child labor.

“While significant progress has been made in eliminating the scourge of child labor from society, this tragedy has been worsened by the impact of the global health crisis and the spread of extreme poverty in many parts of our world where the lack of decent work opportunities for adults and adolescents, migration and humanitarian emergencies condemn millions of young girls and boys to a life of economic and cultural impoverishment,” he wrote.

Pope Francis wrote that he hoped the conference would lead to greater commitment from relevant leaders and international and national organizations in “working to find appropriate and effective ways of protecting the dignity and rights of children, especially through the promotion of social protection systems and access to education on the part of all.”

“The way we relate to children, the extent to which we respect their innate human dignity and fundamental rights, expresses what kind of adults we are and want to be and what kind of society we want to build,” he wrote.

The Vatican is committed to working in ways that help the international community persevere in its efforts to fight child labor exploitation “so that children will be able to enjoy the beauty of this stage of life, while also cultivating dreams for a bright future,” the pope wrote.

The World Day Against Child Labor will be marked June 12 and have the theme “Universal Social Protection to End Child Labor.”

A report released by the International Labor Organization and UNICEF in 2021 estimated some 160 million children — almost one in 10 — worldwide were caught up in forced child labor, an increase of 8.4 million children over the previous four years.

The report said it found “a significant rise in the number of children aged 5 to 11 years in child labor, who now account for just over half of the total global figure.” The number of children aged 5 to 17 years who were involved in work that is hazardous to their health, safety or morals had “risen by 6.5 million to 79 million since 2016.”

Read More Vatican News

Women’s voices: Pope says he’ll add women to Dicastery for Bishops

In interview, pope condemns abortion, says he’s not resigning

Pope couldn’t go to Congo, but Congolese in Rome pray with him for peace

Catholics need better understanding of the Mass, pope says

After court decision, it’s time for widespread pro-life work, Vatican says

Hope must prevail over Mafia culture of fear, pope says

Copyright © 2022 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Carol Glatz

Catholic News Service is a leading agency for religious news. Its mission is to report fully, fairly and freely on the involvement of the church in the world today.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

Latest Local News

Shrine plans museum renovation and new visitor center to enhance story of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Synod process hears from thousands

‘All the desires of my heart’: Vocation to religious life fostered at St. Mary in Hagerstown

RADIO INTERVIEW: The state of the nation

Archbishop William Lori announces clergy appointments, including two new pastors

Latest World News

San Antonio archbishop says exploitation of poor, migrants is ‘grave’

Survivor of monastery shooting says answer to violence is ‘to grow in love’

Australian council in crisis after motions fail to get enough bishop votes

China deploys hundreds of auditors to monitor religious activities online

Women’s voices: Pope says he’ll add women to Dicastery for Bishops

Catholic Review Radio

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • San Antonio archbishop says exploitation of poor, migrants is ‘grave’
  • Shrine plans museum renovation and new visitor center to enhance story of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
  • Skating through life
  • Survivor of monastery shooting says answer to violence is ‘to grow in love’
  • Australian council in crisis after motions fail to get enough bishop votes
  • China deploys hundreds of auditors to monitor religious activities online
  • Women’s voices: Pope says he’ll add women to Dicastery for Bishops
  • Police deflect rioters from Portland Catholic church, avert vandalism
  • MOVIE REVIEW: Thor: Love and Thunder

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2022 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED