Lebrusan Studio Against Child Labour

We are Lebrusan Studio, an ethical jewellery brand based in the UK. 2021 is the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour. With an estimated one million children working in artisanal and small-scale mining worldwide, it's the responsibility of jewellers like us to tackle the issue head-on. Child labour has decreased by 38% in the last decade, but this year it's critical that we accelerate the pace of the process. Before 2021 is out, we hope to raise £1,000 for the Global March Against Child Labour.

What is the Global March Against Child Labour?

The Global March Against Child Labour (Global March) is the largest worldwide network of trade unions, teachers’ associations and civil society organisations that work together towards the shared development goals of eliminating and preventing all forms of child labour, slavery and trafficking and ensuring access by all children to free, meaningful and good quality public education.

Why is Global March’s work so important?

Worldwide, 218 million children between 5 and 17 years old are in employment. 152 million of them are in child labour, which is exploitative and often illegal. Almost half of these children – 73 million of them – work in hazardous labour (work underground, underwater, or with dangerous substances.) This means:

• 1 in 10 children in the world are involved in child labour
• 1 in 20 children in the world are involved in hazardous child labour

When children are working, they are not in school. Without this vital period of education and nurture, they will move through life without the knowledge and skills required for the opportunities they deserve. Hazardous child labour often exposes children to extreme danger, with the International Labour Organisation estimating that some 22,000 children are killed at work every year.

How are donations used?

Global March relies completely on voluntary contributions from governments, international NGOs, private foundations and individuals like you. 15% of donations go to admin costs and overheads, whilst 85% go to programmatic interventions on the ground.

Global March contributes to local, national, regional and global efforts for the protection and promotion of children’s rights. This involves engagement with the United Nations, international and inter-governmental agencies, and civil societies. Through the means of policy advocacy, policy research, awareness raising, capacity building and mobilising worldwide support, Global March work focuses on ending child labour in supply chains, promoting inclusive and quality education for all and ending all forms of child labour.

Who are we?

Lebrusan Studio is a leading ethical jewellery brand based in Brighton and London, UK. We specialise in made-to-order wedding bands, engagement rings and unique bespoke commissions, all created here in the UK using traditional craft techniques and the most sustainable materials available to us. Behind our brand is Arabel Lebrusan; leading artist, award-winning jewellery designer and pioneer of the ethical jewellery movement. As one of the world’s first ever Fairtrade Gold licensees, she is a passionate advocate for jewellery that doesn’t exploit people or planet in any way. Through her designs and tireless campaigning, she is influencing the way industry and consumers view jewellery – changing the world, one gram of gold at a time.

Why is the elimination of child labour important to us?

An estimated one million children – and possibly many more – work globally in the mining of precious metals and gemstones. In Delhi alone, an estimated 20,000 children are involved in the city’s booming jewellery industry. In artisanal and small-scale gold mines, many children work in deep, unstable pits, many suffer respiratory diseases and long-term injury and many are exposed to toxic mercury, which can cause brain damage among other irreversible conditions.

As an ethical jeweller, it’s not enough for us to simply use sustainable materials and ethical practises. It’s our responsibility to cast light on these injustices, campaign for mandatory human rights diligence in supply chains, and strive for an industry free of exploitation.