Background information
Burma, also known as Myanmar is a developing country located in South-east Asia with a population of over 60 million people. In 1962 to 1988, Burma was ruled by a military junta that wielded complete power and abused human rights. This coup d'etat was staged by General Ne Win. Since this rebellion, Burma has plummeted into bankruptcy as the result of black market and rampant smuggling by the military. This has compelled relocation of innocent civilians and human trafficking as well as exploitative employment of children. Although the country is rich in resources, the government and military refuse to pay it's citizens therefore establishing a low economy and controlling children to slave away working dangerous jobs.
Social issue
Burma is one of the leading countries of child labour worldwide. It has children from the age of 7 working in the work force of the military and prostitution. They are manipulated into joining the military and are often used as 'human minesweepers' and 'human shields' during operations.
Child workers have little contact with their families, are underpaid and have incredibly low standards of living with no adequate amount of food, medicine or shelter. They are unable to be provided with an education or decent future. These children frequently die due to diseases, malnutrition, poor medical treatment and working in dangerous conditions. Children at such young ages are not permitted to work and should have the right to recreation and play. The human rights of children are being denied and abused. Children do not deserve this kind of unfair treatment.
Child workers have little contact with their families, are underpaid and have incredibly low standards of living with no adequate amount of food, medicine or shelter. They are unable to be provided with an education or decent future. These children frequently die due to diseases, malnutrition, poor medical treatment and working in dangerous conditions. Children at such young ages are not permitted to work and should have the right to recreation and play. The human rights of children are being denied and abused. Children do not deserve this kind of unfair treatment.
"They say a person without education is blind, but I had no choice."
Human rights abused
Universal Declaration of Children's Rights
1) All children have the right to what follows, no matter what their race, colour sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, or where they were born or who they were born to.
2) You have the special right to grow up and to develop physically and spiritually in a healthy and normal way, free and with dignity.
3) You have a right to a name and to be a member of a country.
4) You have a right to special care and protection and to good food, housing and medical services.
5) You have the right to special care if handicapped in any way.
6) You have the right to love and understanding, preferably from parents and family, but from the government where these cannot help.
7) You have the right to go to school for free, to play, and to have an equal chance to develop yourself and to learn to be responsible and useful.
8) You have the right always to be among the first to get help.
9) You have the right to be protected against cruel acts or exploitation, you should not work before a minimum age and never when that would hinder your health, and your moral and physical development.
10) You should be taught peace, understanding, tolerance and friendship among all people.
1) All children have the right to what follows, no matter what their race, colour sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, or where they were born or who they were born to.
2) You have the special right to grow up and to develop physically and spiritually in a healthy and normal way, free and with dignity.
3) You have a right to a name and to be a member of a country.
4) You have a right to special care and protection and to good food, housing and medical services.
5) You have the right to special care if handicapped in any way.
6) You have the right to love and understanding, preferably from parents and family, but from the government where these cannot help.
7) You have the right to go to school for free, to play, and to have an equal chance to develop yourself and to learn to be responsible and useful.
8) You have the right always to be among the first to get help.
9) You have the right to be protected against cruel acts or exploitation, you should not work before a minimum age and never when that would hinder your health, and your moral and physical development.
10) You should be taught peace, understanding, tolerance and friendship among all people.