Exploiting children
Sir: Auberon Waugh's article in the Spec- tator (17 April) about John Pilger's pur- chase of a child in Thailand glosses over an international problem of enormous seriousness: the increasing exploitation of child labour in most parts of the world (in- cluding Europe) and the parallel increase in the use of children of both sexes in the trades of prostitution and pornography. Mr Waugh would do well to read the report on the exploitation of child labour recently presented to the United Nations Commis- skin on Human Rights by the special rap- Porteur, Professor Bouhdiba (reference E/CN.4/Sub.2/479). He would then perhaps see Mr Pilger's campaign as just one contribution to a much wider move- ment to do something positive to provide a better life for the millions of children everywhere — including Liverpool but not excluding Bangkok — who are at present regarded as so much merchandise.
The Anti-Slavery Society has for several Years been in the forefront of the campaign to ensure that children are given a chance to develop physically, intellectually and morally. In many countries it will be normal for children to contribute to the family budget by their labour: indeed it can be argued that in the industrialised world children are protected far too long from the economic facts of life. But such work should not stunt their potentialities as human beings and they should never be regarded as commodities.
Auberon Waugh's insouciant attitude to Thailand's problems will not, I imagine, deceive your readers who are likely to ex- pect more from journalism than 'good stories' and gossip; the Fourth Estate still has an important role to play as Mr Waugh's own career makes amply plain.
R. P. H. Davies
Secretary, The Anti-Slavery Society, 180 Brixton Road, London SW9
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