Pope Francis spoke strongly against the exploitation of children for profit, during an audience with participants in the international conference, “Eradicating Child Labor, Building a Better Future.”
CARD. PETER TURKSON
Prefect, Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
“The goal is to raise awareness of this scourge and to express the closeness and solidarity of the Church.”
Pope Francis called child labor an affront to human dignity that robs children of their future.
POPE FRANCIS
'(Child labor) denies children their right to health, education and harmonious growth, which includes the possibility to play and to dream... This is tragic. A child who cannot dream, who cannot play, cannot grow.'
The Pope said that eradicating the scourge of child labor requires cooperation on the international level to eliminate poverty and correct the flaws in the global economic system, which he says puts wealth in the hands of a few.
POPE FRANCIS
'We must encourage States and actors in the business world to create dignified jobs with equitable salaries, which allow families to satisfy their needs without their children being forced to work.'
The number of children around the world in child labor has risen to 160 million, according to a report published by the International Labour Organization and UNICEF in June.
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