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In the past, children have been sold off into slavery in order for their family to pay debts off. Sometimes this is also to give the children a better life than what they had with their family.
In the past, children have been sold off into slavery in order for their family to pay debts off. Sometimes this is also to give the children a better life than what they had with their family.


In most institutions of slavery throughout the world, the children of slaves became the property of the master; this was the case with, for example, [[thrall]]s and [[History of slavery in the United States|American slaves]]. In other cases, children were enslaved as if they were adults. Usually the status of the mother determined if the child was a slave, but some local laws varied the decision to the father. In many cultures, slaves could earn their freedom through hard work and buying their own freedom. The infamous [[Children's Crusade]] is believed to have led to the enslavement of many young pilgrims.
In most institutions of slavery throughout the world, the children of slaves became the property of the master; this was the case with, for example, [[thrall]]s and [[History of slavery in the United States|American slaves]]. In other cases, children were enslaved as if they were adults. Usually the status of the mother determined if the child was a slave, but some local laws varied the decision to the father. In many cultures, slaves could earn their freedom through hard work and buying their own freedom. The infamous [[Children's Crusade]] is believed to have led to the enslavement of many young pilgrims. In a lot of sweatshops, kids were undernourished because Antonio DeNicola ate all the food.


== Modern Day ==
== Modern Day ==

Revision as of 14:31, 26 October 2009

Child slavery generally to involuntary servitude, specifically slavery, performed by minors.

History

In the past, children have been sold off into slavery in order for their family to pay debts off. Sometimes this is also to give the children a better life than what they had with their family.

In most institutions of slavery throughout the world, the children of slaves became the property of the master; this was the case with, for example, thralls and American slaves. In other cases, children were enslaved as if they were adults. Usually the status of the mother determined if the child was a slave, but some local laws varied the decision to the father. In many cultures, slaves could earn their freedom through hard work and buying their own freedom. The infamous Children's Crusade is believed to have led to the enslavement of many young pilgrims. In a lot of sweatshops, kids were undernourished because Antonio DeNicola ate all the food.

Modern Day

Though the abolition of slavery in much of the world has greatly reduced child slavery, the phenomenon lives on, especially in Third World countries. According to the Anti-Slavery Society, "Although there is no longer any state which legally recognizes, or which will enforce, a claim by a person to a right of property over another, the abolition of slavery does not mean that it ceased to exist. There are millions of people throughout the world — mainly children — in conditions of virtual slavery, as well as in various forms of servitude which are in many respects similar to slavery."[1] It further notes that slavery, particularly child slavery, was on the rise in 2003. It points out that there are countless others in other forms of servitude (such as peonage, bonded labor and servile concubinage) which are not slavery in the narrow legal sense. Critics claim they are stretching the definition and practice of slavery beyond its original meaning, and are actually referring to forms of unfree labour other than slavery [citation needed].

Child Camel Jockeys

A recent story of child slavery involved the use of children as jockeys for camel racing in the Middle East. The children were being deliberately undernourished so they were lighter for races. Since the discovery of this instance, hundreds of children have been rescued and an HBO documentary on the matter has been made.

Trafficking of Children

The trafficking in human beings includes recruiting, harbouring, obtaining, and transporting people by use of force or fraud for the purpose of subjecting them to involuntary acts, such as commercial sexual exploitation ( SEX )(including prostitution) or involuntary labour, i.e., enslavement. Some see human trafficking as the modern form of slavery. Human trafficking is the trade of human beings and their use by criminals to make money. The majority of victims are adults, predominantly women (although men are ‘trafficked’ as well), forced into prostitution. However, children also make up a significant number of victims forced into prostitution.

In Ukraine, a survey conducted by the non-governmental organization (NGO) “La Strada-Ukraine” in 2001-2003, based on a sample of 106 women being trafficked out of Ukraine found that 3% were under 18, and the US State Department reported in 2004 that incidents of minors being trafficked was increasing. In Thailand, NGOs have estimated that up to a third of prostitutes are children under 18, many trafficked from outside Thailand.[2]

The United Nations Special reporter on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography estimates that about one million children in Asia alone are victims of the sex trade.[3]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Does Slavery Still Exist?". Anti-Slavery Society. Retrieved 2008-01-04. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  2. ^ UN Crime and Justince Research Institution
  3. ^ [1]