Global
March Against Child Labour and Bachpan Bachao
Andolan (BBA), led a march of 50 thousand strong
participants, with more than 200 child delegates
from 30 countries, former bonded and child labourers,
on the occasion of the International Literacy
Day and the culmination of the 2nd Children’s
World Congress on Child Labour and Education,
to demand an end to child labour and for free
quality education for all.
We
want quality education Now; No more tools in
tiny hands, We want books, we want toys; Education
for Liberation, Liberation for education; chants
filled the air from Rajghat to Ramlila Maidan.
BBA goodwill ambassador and Ghazal Maestro Pankaj
Udhas flagged off the march.
After
4 days of deliberation, child delegates and
participants from 30 countries have come out
with charter of demands and a road map to end
child labour and provide free quality education
for all. The declaration explicitly demands
that it is the responsibility of the government
to protect the rights of the children, end child
labour and provide free, equal education of
good quality to all children. Further, they
demand an end to elevated expenditure on weapons
and wars, and increased investment in education
and children. Poverty of a country, hardship
of a country will only increase if we do not
provide for education, these children said.
Mr
Kailash Satyarthi, Chairperson, Global March
and Bachpan Bachao Andolan underlined that the
governments, national and international, UN
agencies, intergovernmental agencies, the civil
society, the media, the business sector and
all others must act with urgency and honesty
to fulfill the demands of the children. The
time for empty promises are long gone, it is
now time to act for the sake of our future and
our children.
Children
from Ethiopia, Pakistan, Philippines, Cameroon,
Bangladesh, Cambodia, Iran, Mexico, Malawi,
Costa Rica, Japan, and Nepal were among the
30 countries that joined hands with children
from Bihar, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh,
Orissa and 50,000 men, women and children in
this march.
