World Leaders Respond to ILO Child Labor Report, Call on International Community to Act Now

The International Labor Organization released a study on Wednesday that reported a whopping 10.5 million children worldwide work as domestic servants.

Children as young as five years old are employed in homes cooking, cleaning and taking care of family members. Oftentimes, the young workers are subject to physical and sexual violence, in addition to being separated from their next-of-kin and socially ostracized.

Now, world leaders are speaking out against child labor, in light of the shocking numbers that ILO's report revealed.

Pope Francis called the exploitation of children in domestic workplaces "deplorable," after the 87-page study was publicized on June 12, World Day Against Child Labor.

"There are millions of children, mostly young girls, who are victims of this hidden form of exploitation that often involves sexual abuse, mistreatment, and discrimination," the pontiff said during a speech in St. Peter's Square. "It is real slavery...a deplorable phenomenon constantly on the rise."

The same day that ILO released their findings, United States Secretary of State John Kerry issued a statement of his own, titled, "'No' to Child Labor in Domestic Work."

"Because domestic work is carried out largely behind closed doors, these children are particularly vulnerable to hazardous...conditions," Kerry wrote. "The U.S. Department of State...[recognizes] that engagement on the grassroots level by NGOs and civil society groups is essential and we applaud and support the efforts of these organizations."

Kerry also said that all cohorts in the international community must submit new legislation and policies that will stop child labor and the exploitation of young people.

In Jamaica, the Minister of Labor and Social Security Derrick Kellier said his government is committed to work against child labor, according to Jamaica Information Service.

The Minister was the keynote speaker at the World Day Against Child Labor 2013 forum in Kingston.

"Our determination in this goal is unshakable and we will remain engaged with the International Labor Organization, the European Union and other international and local partners in this endeavor."

The ILO estimates around 6.5 million domestic workers are between the ages of five and 14 years old.