Tell the Commonwealth Games Federation Child Labor Isn't Sporting

Tell the Commonwealth Games Federation Child Labor Isn't Sporting

The Issue

Update: The 2010 Commonwealth Games are over, but child labor in India remains. The Commonwealth Games Federation hasn't agreed to prevent child labor from being used in future games. Tell them to compensate victims, apologize publicly, and ensure child labor is prevented in the next Commonwealth Games.

Construction managers overseeing construction of the Commonwealth Games Stadiums for the 2010 Delhi games have been offering desperate Indian workers incentives like extra bread and milk to bring their children with them to the construction site of the stadiums.

The result? Children as young as three have been seen working in dangerous piles of rubble on a construction project that has already killed at least 45 people, including a two-year-old girl. Pre-school aged children rake pebbles into bags that kids who should be in elementary school haul away. One 15-year-old boy claimed he was paid just $5 for a 12 hour shift of heavy manual labor. The work is brutal and the days are long. But Indian families need the money and the extra food being used to lure their children into the fray.

Last month, a human rights investigator for the UN said the Delhi Commonwealth Games should be called off, since they have caused widespread displacement of the Indian people and horrific child labor. Many officials have also expressed safety concerns about the construction of the stadiums. But despite documentation of child labor and other human rights and safety concerns, the Commonwealth Games Federation declared that the Games are still on. However, they have made no indication they will stop using child labor in construction or stop bribing poor workers with milk to risk their children's lives.

Ask the Commonwealth Games Federation to stop using child labor immediately.

avatar of the starter
Amanda KloerPetition StarterAmanda is a self-professed geek and full-time abolitionist of seven years, which pays about as well as you think it does. She has created reports, documentaries and training materials on human trafficking in the United States and around the world. In 2009, she was awarded the "Best Blogger Ever" award by her mother, who pronounced her work "just wonderful, dear" and presented her with a ceremonial forehead kiss. In addition to creating change via the interwebs, Amanda works on human rights, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, genocide, and LGBT projects for a trade association.
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The Issue

Update: The 2010 Commonwealth Games are over, but child labor in India remains. The Commonwealth Games Federation hasn't agreed to prevent child labor from being used in future games. Tell them to compensate victims, apologize publicly, and ensure child labor is prevented in the next Commonwealth Games.

Construction managers overseeing construction of the Commonwealth Games Stadiums for the 2010 Delhi games have been offering desperate Indian workers incentives like extra bread and milk to bring their children with them to the construction site of the stadiums.

The result? Children as young as three have been seen working in dangerous piles of rubble on a construction project that has already killed at least 45 people, including a two-year-old girl. Pre-school aged children rake pebbles into bags that kids who should be in elementary school haul away. One 15-year-old boy claimed he was paid just $5 for a 12 hour shift of heavy manual labor. The work is brutal and the days are long. But Indian families need the money and the extra food being used to lure their children into the fray.

Last month, a human rights investigator for the UN said the Delhi Commonwealth Games should be called off, since they have caused widespread displacement of the Indian people and horrific child labor. Many officials have also expressed safety concerns about the construction of the stadiums. But despite documentation of child labor and other human rights and safety concerns, the Commonwealth Games Federation declared that the Games are still on. However, they have made no indication they will stop using child labor in construction or stop bribing poor workers with milk to risk their children's lives.

Ask the Commonwealth Games Federation to stop using child labor immediately.

avatar of the starter
Amanda KloerPetition StarterAmanda is a self-professed geek and full-time abolitionist of seven years, which pays about as well as you think it does. She has created reports, documentaries and training materials on human trafficking in the United States and around the world. In 2009, she was awarded the "Best Blogger Ever" award by her mother, who pronounced her work "just wonderful, dear" and presented her with a ceremonial forehead kiss. In addition to creating change via the interwebs, Amanda works on human rights, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, genocide, and LGBT projects for a trade association.

The Decision Makers

Suresh Kalmadi
Suresh Kalmadi
Chairman, Delhi Games
Hemasiri Fernando
Hemasiri Fernando
VP, Asia Region
Michael Fennell
Michael Fennell
President, Executive Board
Ian Chesterman
Ian Chesterman
Media Contact

Petition Updates