As news of a budget deal rolled out this morning, we held our breath. Earlier this year our hearts sank as we realized that the entire budget line item for programs to fight child labor within the International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) had been cut from the proposed FY2016 federal budget. These programs have a proven … Read More
Protecting Children
Action Needed: An Update from Cambodia on the Fight Against Child Labor.
Update September 16, 2015: Congress has introduced a budget bill that includes restored funding for ILAB programs to fight child labor! Your actions and prayers made it happen. Thank you. We want to say thank you to our advocates. In addition to making phone calls and having meetings, you have sent over 15,000 emails to … Read More
Is the U.S. Forgetting About Child Labor?
Today is recognized as World Day Against Trafficking in Persons – including the 5.5 million children in forced labor. However, the United States Congress has made the decision to zero out the account that funds programs that have effectively worked with partners to withdraw 1.7 million children from the worst forms of child labor, including … Read More
Why Girls Count is One Piece of the Puzzle
Earlier this month, Senator Marco Rubio– a Senate sponsor of the Girls Count Act, shared on CNN why this legislation is so critical. Senator Rubio argues that legislation such as the Girls Count Act, as well as strong foreign assistance, not only positively impacts and saves millions of lives, but also advances U.S. national interests. … Read More
When Will We Stop Just Watching?
Update: Wednesday, June 24, late afternoon Congress appointed Molly Phee U.S. Ambassador to South Sudan. Thank you for all your phone calls! In a just-released report, South Sudan topped the list of the world’s most fragile states for the second year in a row. World Vision’s policy adviser for child protection Jessica Bousquette, shares why … Read More
Celebrating Fathers Continued: With Arms Wide Open
Today, we continue to celebrate fathers by sharing a story from India. Men are playing a critical role in ending child marriage and helping the community realize that girls are to be valued, given opportunities for education, and a chance to thrive. By Annilla Harris; World Vision India According to the 2014 UNICEF report, Ending Child Marriage … Read More
World Day Against Child Labor
Today is World Day Against Child Labor. When young Latha’s mother became sick, she found herself responsible for caring for her younger brothers and was forced to drop out of school. To help her family, she began working 12-plus hours a day as a laborer at a local matchstick factory. Watch her story and how … Read More
Celebrate – You Made a Law!
The Girls Count Act is going to the President’s desk! We want to give a heartfelt thank you to all of our World Vision advocates. More than a year and a half ago the Girls Count Act was introduced in Congress. You stayed with us on this journey that was long, and sometimes discouraging. Last … Read More
Girls Count Act Reintroduced!
Visiting a doctor; going to school; opening a bank account; owning property; getting married— all things that we generally take for granted, but things that millions will never have the opportunity to do because they lack a simple piece of paper— a birth certificate. Globally, one in three children— 230 million— under the age of … Read More
Fulfilling Our Promises to South Sudan’s Children
On January 27, 2015, UNICEF (the United Nations Emergency Fund for Children) announced the release of 280 children from an armed group in South Sudan. February 10, 2015, 300 more children were released. Many of these children had been part of this group for years. On February 21, 2015, an armed group abducted 89 boys … Read More