Bloomberg has unveiled a comprehensive coverage of forced child labor in the African country of Burkina Faso. The story was published in the second week of December but received little coverage in America’s mainstream media and fashion publications. Watch one of the video clips and read the comprehensive coveraege on Bloomberg.
“Dec. 15 (Bloomberg) — Bloomberg’s Cam Simpson reports from Burkina Faso on the plight of 13-year-old foster child Clarisse Kambire, one of many children involved in the production of organic and “fair-trade” cotton which is used to make garments for U.S. lingerie maker Victoria’s Secret. (Source: Bloomberg)”
Read the full story on Bloomberg.
-Uduak Oduok
Founded in 2007, Ladybrille® Magazine is a California based pioneer digital publication demystifying the image of Africans in the west through contemporary African fashion and celebrating the brilliant woman in business and leadership, with an emphasis on the African woman in the diaspora. Our coverage includes stories on capital, access to markets, expertise, hiring and retention, sales, marketing, and promotions.
My heart is saddened while I watch this. But I want to know..what other options are there to producing on the mass scale without robbing people’s lives? Are there ways that companies like VS can employ their labor in Burkina Faso, but also educate them and allow them to dream?
It’s painful to see this girl go robbed so that the rest the world can have underwear…of all things.
@LebanonCedar, VS claims they had no idea of the ongoing child slave labor. They are looking into the allegations. In the meantime, there are laws regarding this even in Africa. As you probably already guessed, most of those laws are not enforced. For US companies doing business overseas, it is a matter of constant due diligence and review of international business practices to make sure they are in line with the standards here in the USA and that they do not violate basic human rights.
Thank you for your comment.
Uduak Oduok
Editor-in-Chief