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Human
Rights Are At Stake.
Paying poverty
wages to early care and education professionals goes against
the core human rights values of respect, dignity and sanctity of human
life.
These values
should be at the forefront of social and
political policy. The
denial
of human rights, including economic human rights, is an
affront to the dignity of all persons. That's why it's
time for child care workers, including parents, to
demand worthy wages and adequate supports for those who care for children.
The UN's
Universal Declaration of Human Rights includes
the following economic human rights, all of which are
violated
by the current state of child care and early education
in the United States:
- Wages that
are worthy of human dignity
- The right
to equal pay for equal work
- The right
to freedom from poverty, including rights to food, clothing,
housing and medical care
- Free education
The human rights of teachers and other child care professionals
are violated when child care workers are paid poverty wages.
This is especially troubling since most child care workers
in
North America are women and persons of color or visible minorities. It's time for worthy wages
for all child care workers.
The human rights of children and families are violated when
the lack of public support for quality child care results in
high turnover, little opportunity for professional development
and tough working conditions.
The human rights of children and families are also violated
when many families cannot afford quality
child care. It's time for universal child care for all.
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