The Incarnation reminds us that there is an abiding relationship between the Creator and creation, that God so loved the world that God sent his son to be among us that we might not perish (John 3:16). Laudato Si reminds us that every single person, every single child – not just the Christ Child, is unique and can never be “reduced to the status of an object.” And yet child labor, the use of children as objects for production, persists worldwide. Child labor has also risen as a direct result of the COVID-10 pandemic, which forced schools worldwide to close and household incomes to plummet, increasing the likelihood of children working to keep families alive. Child labor is a direct result of extreme poverty, where children are vulnerable to economic forces that often take direct advantage of their age, size, and family survival needs. Consider these 2020 statistics from the International Labour Organization: 160 million children are engaged in child labour. 79 million of them are performing hazardous work. Sub-Saharan Africa stands out as the region with the highest prevalence and largest number of children in child labour. Agriculture accounts for the largest share of child labour worldwide. More than a quarter of children aged 5 to 11 and over a third of children aged 12 to 14 who are in child labour are out of school. Many more children in child labour struggle to balance the demands of school and child labour at the same time. The Christ Child works in the fields and picks cotton so we can wear inexpensive clothes. The Christ Child works in the mines so we can buy more electronics. Emmanuel, God with us.
Laudato Si Quote:
81. Human beings, even if we postulate a process of evolution, also possess a uniqueness which cannot be fully explained by the evolution of other open systems. Each of us has his or her own personal identity and is capable of entering into dialogue with others and with God himself. Our capacity to reason, to develop arguments, to be inventive, to interpret reality and to create art, along with other not yet discovered capacities, are signs of a uniqueness which transcends the spheres of physics and biology. The sheer novelty involved in the emergence of a personal being within a material universe presupposes a direct action of God and a particular call to life and to relationship on the part of a “Thou” who addresses himself to another “thou”. The biblical accounts of creation invite us to see each human being as a subject who can never be reduced to the status of an object.
For Reflection
- In what ways might I be more aware of what I buy and where I buy it from?
- At whose expense are “cheap” items produced?
- How does this Advent season reflect the values I say are important to me?
- How might I approach each person, each woman and girl, as uniquely created by God for a purpose uniquely theirs?
Prayers
Prayer for Child Laborers. (Education for Justice)
Advocacy
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) calls for global coordination to prevent a health crisis from becoming a child-rights crisis. It advocates action to: • Keep children healthy and well nourished • Reach vulnerable children with water, sanitation and hygiene • Keep children learning • Support families to cover their needs and care for their children • Protect children from violence, exploitation and abuse • Protect refugee and migrant children, and those affected by conflict.
To learn more about child labor, and how you can make a difference, click here.
To learn about child labor and fast fashion (those inexpensive throwaway fashion items) click here.
