PAPAL TELEGRAM FOR CONVENTION ON CHILD LABOR

VATICAN CITY, NOV 20, 2000 (VIS) - The following telegram, published today and written in English, was sent by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of State, in Pope John Paul's name to Juan Somavia, director general of the International Labor Organization, upon the coming into effect of a Convention on child labor:

"His Holiness John Paul II was pleased to learn that Convention 182 concerning the prohibition and immediate action for the elimination of the worst forms of child labor will come into effect on November 19, 2000. His Holiness has insisted that 'no one can remain indifferent to the suffering of countless children who fall victim to intolerable exploitation and violence, not just as a result of the evil perpetrated by individuals but often as a direct consequence of corrupt social structures' ('Ecclesia in Asia',34). He trusts therefore that the Convention will be major contribution to the defense of children who are powerless to defend themselves against the harm done to them by individuals in whom the voice of conscience has been silenced or by social structures which enable the strong to trample on the rights of the weak. His Holiness earnestly hopes that all member nations of the (International Labor) Organization will quickly ratify the Convention and work resolutely to ensure its full application, so that the young of the world, who are born in the image of God, may be allowed to grow and develop in a way worthy of their inalienable human dignity."

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