Pupils go to slavery forum (From Stroud News and Journal)

Pupils go to slavery forum

A PARTY of ten Stroud teenagers will be the only school pupils in the world to attend a UN conference on child slavery in Geneva next month.

The sixth formers are trying to raise £2,000 to bring two speakers from India to discuss issues of forced migration and economic and sexual exploitation, with the working group on contemporary forms of slavery.

Geography teacher Bob Willey will accompany the group travelling under the umbrella of the Action for Children campaign led by the Rev Dr Graham St John Willey.

Mr Willey has been taking groups to Geneva for the past six years.

He said: "There are no other students in the world that can do this and for students looking to go onto university to be able to put this on their UCAS forms gives them a unique selling point."

While there the students will have UN passes giving them almost unrestricted access to the different offices of the world organisation.

The group departs on Saturday, June 14 and returns on Sunday, June 22.

Group member Al King, 16, said: "We want to make governments more aware of what is going on in their countries and remind leaders of their promise never to practise slavery."

In a bid to raise the money to fly the speakers from India to Switzerland, the group has organised a welter of fundraising events, including a sponsored walk for year seven Archway students and a non-uniform day.

Anyone who would like to make a donation should call Bob Willey on 01453 763242.

Meanwhile Mr Willey is leading student efforts to persuade the British government to contribute funds to the working group trust fund.

So far 120 MPs have signed an early day motion calling for a British contribution.

Mr Willey said: "The amount we are asking for is small in government terms - perhaps £50,000 - which perhaps would not even cover the cost of toilet paper in the House of Commons but would make Britain the biggest donor."