The International Labour Organisation is dedicating the year 2021 to the elimination of child labour, as still today 152 million children around the world are affected by it. "Child labour is defined by international standards as work that is hazardous, demands too many hours, or is performed by children who are too young."
Even though child labour has decreased by 38% in the past decade, still today 1 out of 10 children are in child labour and 1 out of 20 are in hazardous child labour. This prevents them from accessing the education they need and in certain severe cases even enslaves children, separates them from their families or exposes them to serious hazards or illnesses. Children in Africa are the most affected by child labour, followed by Asia and the Pacific. These children are forced to work by the conditions that they live in, as their parents lack enough income to support them, they need to work for their own survival. Most children work in agriculture, however, it is important to note that it does not only impact children in poor countries as half of the affected children live in middle-income countries. Therefore it is the responsibility of us all to act against it!
What can you do?
The UN is calling all stakeholders from organisations to individuals to make an action pledge for 2021! This action can be developing a regional road map or training local NGOs to prevent the rise of child labour due to Covid-19. Once you have taken action, they ask the stakeholders to share their stories and progress to inspire other people around the globe. The last step is to scale your project up and work together with other change-makers. For more advice on how to take action please read this Practical Guide.
You can also join the discussion on social media by using the hashtag #EndChildLabour2021 or sign up for the newsletter!