Faces of Freedom photo exhibit opens in NYC
Last week the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and RugMark USA co-sponsored an opening reception of Faces of Freedom, images documenting progress towards ending child labor in the handmade carpet industry in South Asia. Taken by acclaimed documentary photographer U. Roberto Romano, the photographs in this collection depict the grim reality of child labor, as well as the hope and empowerment brought to former child laborers through RugMark's educational and rehabilitation programs. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), more than 200 million children in the world today are involved in child labor, doing work that is damaging to his or her mental, physical, and emotional development.
Last week the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and RugMark USA co-sponsored an opening reception of Faces of Freedom, images documenting progress towards ending child labor in the handmade carpet industry in South Asia. Taken by acclaimed documentary photographer U. Roberto Romano, the photographs in this collection depict the grim reality of child labor, as well as the hope and empowerment brought to former child laborers through RugMark's educational and rehabilitation programs. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), more than 200 million children in the world today are involved in child labor, doing work that is damaging to his or her mental, physical, and emotional development.
Speakers at the event included Caryl Stern, President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF; Nina Smith, Executive Director of RugMark USA; U. Roberto Romano; and Kailash Satyarthi, founder of RugMark and Chair of the Global March Against Child Labor. All of the speakers addressed the pressing issue of child labor and celebrated UNICEF's and RugMark's efforts toward ending the use of child labor in the handmade rug industry.
The event also celebrated the launch of RugMark's new independent certification program, the GoodWeave label, which offers consumers their best assurance that no child labor was used. There was a silent auction of four GoodWeave certified rugs as well as a framed photograph from the collection; proceeds will support both RugMark and UNICEF child protection initiatives.
Faces of Freedom will be on public display in the Danny Kaye Visitor's Center, located in the lobby of UNICEF House in New York City, through October 30. After that, it will be displayed at the World Bank, the Miami International Airport, and other venues. Please visit http://FacesofFreedom.GoodWeave.org/ for the complete exhibition calendar and a preview of the photos.
Every day, 24,000 children die from preventable causes, simply because they don't have access to clean water, immunizations, proper nutrition, or protection from exploitation and during emergencies. The lifesaving work of UNICEF and likeminded organizations such as RugMark are bringing us closer and closer to the day when the number of children dying from preventable causes is finally zero.
