Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL LABOR AFFAIRS

LABOR DEPARTMENT LOOKS AT INTERNATIONAL SALE AND TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN

Thurs., Sept. 28, 1995

For more information call: 202/219-6373.

The prostitution of children is considered by many to be the most exploitative form of forced child labor. The Department of Labor and the Department of State will jointly sponsor a symposium on the problem on Friday, Sept. 29. The symposium, organized by Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs, is part of a series of occasional public forums on foreign labor issues.

The phenomenon, which is actually child slavery, is publicly condemned by governments around the world on moral and legal grounds. Most recently, at the Beijing conference, governments have been urged to address the problem. It is also a violation of the forced labor convention of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and other international laws. The one-day symposium will examine locations and patterns of such child exploitation and the available international responses to such abuses. Various entities are involved to counter the problem, including educational institutions, public health services, other government and non-government organizations and law enforcement offices.

Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II will give the keynote address. Other participants will include representatives of the UNICEF, the ILO, U.S. government agencies, the media and non-government organizations.

The symposium will be held from 8:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. The program is open to the public without charge but space is limited so registration is required. To register or to obtain additional information, contact Daniel Solomon at (202) 501-6068.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.