Faces of Freedom: Visions of Hope for Child Laborers

U. ROBERTO ROMANO

Award-winning human rights educator, filmmaker and photographer U. Roberto Romano began his activism on the issue of child labor in 1995 when in Pakistan to film a story of the murder of Iqbal Masih, a child carpet slave turned activist. Since then, Romano has traveled extensively and documented the many manifestations of child labor that invisibly penetrate the lives of countless Americans. The images that make up Faces of Freedom were documented between 1996 and 2007. In addition to documenting the work of RugMark throughout South Asia, Romano has worked with numerous human rights organizations including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, The International Labor Organization, Stop The Traffik, The Hunger Project, The Farm Labor Organizing Committee, Council on Foreign Relations and Antislavery International.

"Over the past 10 years I have watched RugMark take a lead role in the rescue and rehabilitation of child slaves and laborers in the carpet industry. It has grown into a trusted organization that continues to expand its reach and vision, all the while educating consumers that they can be good global citizens and make a difference where it is needed most. Many of the images here are grim reminders that children are still exploited in the netherworld of the global economy, but most show us that there is always hope when they are given a chance, and this is how it should be."

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