Case One

Rudolph is a 10 year old boy from Delphi, India who has been forced to work in a glass factory nearby. He comes from a family of ten, and both parents are illiterate. Last year the father lost his leg in an accident at work and was laid off. My first thought immediately went to the ethical standpoint. Having said that 85% of children under fourteen work in agricultural setting made me cringe. The heavy loads of works placed on young children, the long hours and the heat alone are factors that I feel are not morally right health conditions for children. 9% were reported to be placed in fields related to manufacturing, which steals time away that should be spent on education to avoid illiterate children. Last it said .8% are working in factories with sharp objects such as glass and chemicals that can do internal harm to the lungs, or even damage and infect skin that gets cut. Children should play and go to school, which in turn will give them future opportunities , help them become well rounded and understand interaction amongst their peers.

I understand issues such as success of the country comes from the social engineering and economic growth according to the article, but in my opinion putting a child to work is ethically wrong.

As far as social justice is concerned, when I first read the scenario I thought why not have children work at a later age when their personalities have developed and their education is well maintained! Where is the welfare for the parents who are injured or an act such as the Americans Disability Act that would provide the father with compensation? There should be economical infrastructure supporting these people. According to Article three in the Convention on the Right of the Child, it states that the "best interest of the child" should be a determining factor. Article 27 states the "parent(s) or others responsible for the child have the primary responsibility to secure, within their abilities and financial capacities, the conditions of living necessary for the child's development". This was the case until the father lost the job and forced his ten year old boy to work, which in my opinion is not providing a financially secure home.

As I red on I realized many Acts were set up such as Enactment of Children Act, Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986, and organizations such as the Child Labor Technical Advisory Committee, to help deal with the rights of children. Although laws have been placed such as children after the age of fourteen are put to work, they get educated for two hours daily and work six hours in non-hazardous workplaces, I still find this morally wrong. Article 28 focuses on the education of a child, and personally I feel India falls short from their responsibility as a country by providing only two hours for children about fourteen. Article 32 states performing any work that interferes with a child's education and receives pay less than minimum wage is banned. I am sure children are being taken advantage of and are receiving less money than an adult in the same position would.

Bronfenbrenner's chart helps explain emotions can be first found within the family, but external forces shape them as well. With a family who is not secure and working conditions that put limitations to a persons childhood, it can be damaging. School is emphasized on the chart and is critical in my opinion to developing relationships. What we can do as a community is trying to advertise the situation here in the United States and donate to the non-profit organizations that are trying to put child rights laws into effect.