Child Labor in the Hand-Knotted Carpet Industry
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Printing, Graphics, & Direct Mail Document Scanning Index Form High Speed Scanning Date of Request: 12/01/14 Box 18 of64 Senator or Department: SENATOR HARKIN Instructions: Prepare one form for insertion at the beginning of each record series. Prepare and insert additional forms at points that you would like to index. For example: at the beginning of a new folder, briefing book, topic, project, or date sequence. Record Type*: Speeches Inclusive Month/Year of Records*: 1994-2014 (1) Subject*: International-Human Rights Speeches (2) Staffer*: Jim Whitmire E Maintain (Return to Office) O Destroy (Shred) *REQUIRED INFORMATION 1 11111111111111111111 Rugmark Movie Introduction March 14, 2001 * TY Terry, for that kind introduction, and for all your good work on behalf of Rugmark. * And I'd like to welcome you all here today for the screening of "The Carpet Slaves: Stolen Children of India -- which highlights Rugmark's work to eradicate child labor in the hand-knotted carpet industry. * Before we begin the film, I'd like to take a moment to recognize several people here today - and make a few brief remarks on the status of our work to end child labor. * TY Pharis [fair-is] Harvey and Nina Smith for your trail- blazing efforts for Rugmark. * I'd also like to recognize someone who couldn't be here today, who's been a real torch-bearer for Rugmark, -- and that's Stephanie Odegard [oh-deh-gard]. * Stephanie was the first importer to join Rugmark in America, -- and she's worked tirelessly to raise awareness and bring her colleagues on board. 1 * I know that stepping out from the rug industry and breaking the silence around child labor hasn't made Stephanie the most popular person in the business, - but it's made a real difference for Rugmark and for a lot of young kids who are now in schools instead of factories, -- and I commend her for her work. * I also especially want to thank Brian Woods, -- Kate Blewett [blew-it], -- HBO, -- Nancy Abraham, -- and everyone who worked with them, for bringing us this film. * I know that filming and producing this movie wasn't easy. -- It probably wasn't always safe. -- And it certainly isn't going to make anyone rich. * But because of your courage and vision, people across America will soon witness the horrors of forced child labor -- many of them for the first time. * After watching your documentary, I know that a lot of Americans are going to get down on their knees and take a good hard look at the labels on their rugs. 2 * And next time they're at the oriental carpet store, you can bet that they're going to demand Rugmark. * I'm proud to serve on the Board of Directors of Rugmark -- and to display a Rugmark rug in the center of my office. * And I'm proud to stand with Rugmark against abusive child labor. * My core beliefs about child labor exploitation are simple: * Children don't belong in factories, fields or brothels - they belong in schools * Consumers have the right to know that products they buy aren't made with the sweat, blood and tears of children * And we must independently monitor employers to ensure they're following the laws. * For the past seven years, Rugmark has been fighting hard for these principles, -- rescuing hundreds of children from virtual slavery -- sending them to school, where they belong -- and giving them hope for the future. * But Rugmark can't eradicate abusive child labor alone. 3 * That's why I and so many of you have been working so hard to pass strong anti-child labor laws. * We've had our share of victories. * We recently ratified ILO Convention 182 which prohibits the worst forms of child labor. * This is the first international treaty in history approved unanimously by every single member of the ILO. * We've passed the Harkin Amendment as part of the Trade and Development Act of 2000. * This amendment prohibits awarding trade preferences and duty-free access to the U.S. market to any country that hasn't implemented its commitments to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. -- This is one of the toughest anti-child labor provisions in history. * Last year, we enacted a provision to permanently ban the importation of products made by forced or indentured child labor. 4 * And we're making good progress on a new and improved bill which I first introduced in 1998, - the CARE (Children's Act for Responsible Employment) Bill of 2001. * This Bill is designed to help the 800,000 migrant child laborers who toil in the fields of large-scale commercial agriculture right here in America, - children who work at younger ages, - - for longer hours, -- exposed to more hazardous conditions than minors working in non-agricultural jobs. * My bill would make sure that these kids have the same rights and legal protections as those working in non-agricultural jobs. -- I'll need your help to pass this bill during this Congress. * Strong anti-child labor laws are important. * But let me tell you, they're not worth the paper they're printed on if we don't invest the resources to enforce them -- and make sure that agencies like Treasury, Customs, and the U.S. Trade Representative do their jobs. 5 * This takes money. -- And it takes strong leadership from Congress and from our President. * Unfortunately, the Bush Administration just doesn't seem to quite get it right now. * Last I heard, the Administration is planning to cut our budget to fight abusive child labor abroad by 65% to 75%. * Now, I'm hopeful that President Bush himself hasn't yet seen these details. * I'm sure that once he does, he'll realize that this funding is important - not just for child laborers, -- but for our working men and women here in America who shouldn't have to compete with kids locked in factories abroad. * So tonight, as we watch this film, let's renew our commitment to work together and fight harder than ever before to end abusive child labor. * Let's go out and make some noise and let it be known that we believe that no child - here in America or abroad - should be left behind. 6 * And let's make it perfectly clear that we're not going to back down. * I thank all of you for being here tonight. * I commend you on your commitment to ending child labor exploitation. * And I look forward to working with you in the future. * An now, it's my pleasure to present "The Carpet Slaves: Stolen Children of India." 7 A- * eksk~ (~CY( ClAd LA0111 (~tAJ~~% g /(itV\ / D~O U~cyc ~e~<e6 I k ( Xvl-t- CA IIAVA D- 3 ^ S V-'C ~A< 7 (~ K/s \ \- / e7 I ,/1..r-. (OVK k/w)~D) 0I (V\~t~. 41 TOM HARKIN (202) 224-3254 IOWA TTY (202) 224-4633 Tom [email protected] COMMITTEES: AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS WASHINGTON, DC 20510-1502 SMALL BUSINESS LABOR AND HUMAN RESOURCES March 1, 2001 Dear Colleague: On Wednesday, March 14' at 6:00 p.m., I will be hosting a special screening of the HBO/CINEMAX documentary film, The CarpetSlaves: Stolen Children of India in Dirksen 562. This film highlights the work of the RUGMAlK Foundation as a driving force behind the eradication of child labor in the hand knotted carpet industry. I am proud to serve on the Board of Directors for RUGMARK, a global nonprofit organization working to end child labor and offer educational opportunities to children in India, Nepal, and Pakistan. The CarpetSlaves, by award-winning filmmakers Kate Blewett and Brain Woods, exposes an extreme form of child slavery found in the carpet belt region of Northern India. The Film tells the story of a young boy, Huro, who was kidnapped at the age of six and found five years later during a dramatic rescue that turns up more than a dozen young boys in a carpet weaving facility outside of Varanasi, India. I hope your schedule will allow you to join me in previewing this film. If you are not available to attend, I encourage you to watch on Monday, March 26' at 7:00 p.m. when it premiers on the CINEMAX Reel Life series. To RSVP for the event or for additional information, please contact either Sarah Dietch or Bill Goold of my staff at 224-3254. Sincerely, Tom Harkin United States Senate TH/shd 150 FIRST AVENUE, NE 210 WALNUT ST. 131 E. 4TH ST. 350 WEST 6TH ST. 320 6TH ST. SUITE 370 733 FEDERAL BLDG. 314B FEDERAL BLDG. 315 FEDERAL BLDG. 110 FEDERAL BLDG. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA 52407-4884 DES MOINES, IA 50309 DAVENPORT, IA 52801 DUBUQUE, IA 52001 SIOUX CITY, IA 51101 365-4504 (319) (515) 2844574 (319) 322-1338 (319) 582-2130 (712) 252-1550 Febuary 23, 2001: - The Hon- Hillary Rodham Cinon ~U.SSenate .- ~B40-6DIirksen Building Washington,:D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Clinton Board of Diectors' D I am-writing athe suggestion of RUGMARK USA Board Member, Tom Harkin, to mvite you to Phars lHarvey speak atavery special event in mid-March in Manhattan: the-New Yorkpress-screeing of the Interational Labor.' documentary film The Carpet Slaves: Stolen Children oflndia Rights* Fund Carpet Saves. latest production of academy award-winnes- e Blettand Brian Woods tells the storyfof one.man's-search tfor his missing son against the backdrop of extreme poverty,- e gexpanding global trade and the efforts of inidividuals hoare- dedicatedto ending child servitude.' Right Fund' Blewett and Woods follow a trail that begins in aremote village in northeastem Idia.