Promoting The Rights of Children

Have you ever wondered why a 10-year-old boy is selling tea late at night when he should be in his bed sleeping so he can go to school the next day? We see so many children in the streets who beg, borrow, and steal for a living. A child is someone whose mental and physical development is largely dependent on the social and familial environment they live in. Childhood is a vulnerable phase in which academic pursuit, good physical activity and adequate social interaction in a secure environment can contribute to the kid’s physical and mental well-being. After all, a happy childhood can ensure a bright future. Therefore, the word child labor is a stark contradiction of all things that make for an ideal childhood. To put it lucidly, it’s the employment of children in any work that deprives children of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and that is mentally, physically, socially, or morally dangerous and harmful. To make matters worse, often, children left orphan have no other choice but to work at such a young, fragile age. 

According to a Humanium report, there are 153 million orphans worldwide. Of the 132 million orphans who live in developing countries alone, an estimated 13 million have lost both parents. Over 71 million orphans live in Asia, with 31 million in India itself, 59 million in Africa, and almost 9 million in Latin America and the Caribbean islands. 

Similarly, According to data from Census 2011, the number of child laborers in India is 10.1 million of which 5.6 million are boys and 4.5 million are girls. A total of 152 million children – 64 million girls and 88 million boys – are estimated to be in child labor globally, accounting for almost one in ten of all children worldwide.

The number of children in child labor has risen to 160 million worldwide – an increase of 8.4 million children in the last four years – with 9 million additional children at risk due to the impact of COVID-19.

Children may be driven into work for various reasons. Most often, child labor occurs when families face financial challenges or uncertainty – whether due to poverty or as a result of the loss of a parent.

According to research by DGHI, one in seven orphaned children in low and middle-income countries engaged in child labor. The study included 1,480 orphaned children in Cambodia, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, and Tanzania.

These statistics are alarming and indicate the need to take action. These children require more than just infrastructural help. There are a lot of existing laws and acts regarding child labor. However, what these children need is a more personal approach. They need their needs to be met, which naturally differ from person to person. It is of utmost importance to ensure that they see a hopeful future- a future where they don’t have to scrape for a living.