 The
World Cup Campaign 2002 was initiated by the
Global March Against Child Labour, to ensure
that the promise made by the sporting goods
industry and FIFA to end child labour in football
stitching and other sporting products becomes
a reality. The Campaign has asked for the establishment
of an industry-wide, transparent labour monitoring
system to eradicate child labour and protect
all the rights of the adult workers in the sporting
goods production.
The Campaign was successful in bringing forth
changes in the entire scenario. Petitions were
signed, a network of concerned organisations
was consolidated, dialogues with international
organisations such as UNICEF and FIFA were activated,
investigations were made in Pakistan and India,
many pledges were taken, and people from around
the world acted in solidarity.
Some
of the major achievements of the World Cup Campaign
include:
-
Over 55 million supporters showed solidarity
with child labourers and adult workers who
are exploited in the sporting goods production.
The overwhelming support came from national
and international unions, professional football
players, children, youth and adults from all
over the world. Many people in their act of
showing support and concern, signed online
petitions as well.
-
The World Cup Campaign created mass awareness
about child labour around the world, especially
in Japan and Korea, the host countries of
the World Cup. This was a major accomplishment,
making an inroad into countries where people,
specially the youth, were unaware of child
labour issues.In the process, we were able
to inspire many youngsters to continue the
fight against child labour.
- The
European Parliament passed
a resolution calling to eradicate child labour
in the production of sports equipment . The
strong emphasis, in the resolution, against
the use of child labour in the most popular
sporting industry, gives support to the World
Cup Campaign. The resolution was passed officially
on 12 June 2002.
-
33 US Senators and House
Representatives of the US Government signed
on a letter to FIFA asking to play fair
in manufacturing sporting goods, especially
in football stitching. International Center
on Child Labour and Education (ICCLE), Global
March's Northern Advocacy Office, in Washington
DC, worked with Senator Tom Harkin and Senator
George Miller to send a clear statement from
the US to FIFA to clean up their act.
-
The Global March led an independent investigation
in Pakistan, outside of Sialkot, on the situation
of existing child labour. Some children, as
young as 8 years old, were found stitching
footballs, outside of the monitoring system
in Sialkot. A report based on this investigation,
"Outside
of Sialkot" stirred controversies
among stakeholders in Pakistan and around
the world.
- The
India Committee of the Netherlands led a study
on the working conditions in football stitching
industry in India, with specific mentions
on child labour. "A
Case for Corporate Social Responsibility"
was published as a comprehensive follow-up
to "Dark
Side of Football", which first revealed
child labour in India's sporting good industry
in 2000.
- National
Labour Institute of India led their own research
on child labour in Jalandhar, Punjab after
the release of reports (conducted by the World
Cup Campaign partners) on children involved
in football stitching in Pakistan and India.
The institute confirmed the facts revealed
by the Global March, that there are a number
of children stitching footballs in India.
The Sialkot Chamber of Commerce carried out
a similar investigation in Pakistan to trace
the children that were photographed in the
Global March's report. It also confirmed that
there are children stitching footballs in
Pakistan.
-
The worldwide activities were carried out
to show support for the Campaign and to mobilise
the public opinion against child labour in
the sporting goods industry. Major activities
took place in Italy, Spain, Argentina, and
many other countries in Europe. The grassroots
activities gave a mileage to build up pressure
on the industry and FIFA.
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