152 million children in the world are obliged to work, half
of them in the worst forms in sectors such as toiling on farms, crawling
underground in gold mines, construction, sewing garments in sweatshops to doing
household chores as domestic helpers. Poverty being both the cause and the
consequence, strategic and holistic actions are essential to break this vicious
cycle and to accelerate the pace for the elimination of child labour in all its
forms by 2025 as set up by the SDG target 8.7.
This kind of work deprives them of adequate education,
health, leisure and basic freedoms, violating their rights. Of these 152
million children, more than half are exposed to the worst forms of child labour
such as work in hazardous environments, slavery, illicit activities such as
drug trafficking and prostitution, as well as involvement in armed conflict,
this young population is denied of basic human rights, including their right to
education.
Children are born to enjoy their childhood irrespective of
their socio-economic-political circumstances. It is their fundamental right to
receive quality, inclusive and free education. However, children in child
labour often don’t enjoy this right and freedom. Thus, if child labour is to be
eradicated completely, it cannot be done without corresponding efforts in
ensuring education for all. In fact, child labour and education are
co-dependent challenges. As long as child labour remains, the goal of
education, especially universal primary education remains a distant dream.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) launched the
first #WorldDayAgainstChildLabour in 2002 as a way to highlight the
plight of these children. Observed annually on 12 June, this Day is intended to
serve as a catalyst for the growing worldwide movement against child labour and
provides an opportunity to gain support from governments, civil society,
schools, youth and women’s groups as well as the media, in the campaign against
child labour #StandAgainstChildLabour #SpeakOut #ZeroExploitation #WorldDayAgainstChildLabour
#ChildrenOurGenerations #ChildRights
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