Sustainable development goal target 8.7 in the 2030 agenda calls on nations to work to end all forms of violence against children. A renewal of the global desire to ensure that every child lives free from neglect, abuse, exploitation and fear. Most children from disadvantaged backgrounds are required to abandon their education in order to work and support the family. 72% of all child labour and 83% of child labour among children aged 5 - 11 occurs with families, primarily on family farms or in family micro enterprises. 40million girls and 52million boys in Africa are engaged in child labour, making a total of 92million child labourers in Africa. A new global estimate by international labour organization (ILO) and UNICEF says the number of child labourers in Africa has increased by 20million children in the last 4 years. Urgent actions needs to be taken by the political leaders in Africa to help save the future of these vulnerable children. Africa had 92million of the 160million children in child labour worldwide.
70% of all children in child labour, 112million children in total are in agriculture, underscoring agriculture as an entry point to child labour. 82% of the 86.6million children in child labour in sub-saharan Africa are engaged in agriculture. Addressing the root causes of child labour in agriculture such as poverty and the lack of social protection is a sure path to eliminating child labour in Africa and globally. Strengthening social protection is essential to reduce families vulnerability and dependence on child labour. Through the adoption of the all agenda 2040 for an Africa fit for children, we have promised the children of Africa a future without child labour. We must keep our promise. Together we can eliminate child labour in Africa. Child labour is frequently hazardous wherever it takes, in family small holder and commercial farming, common hazards include, exposure to inorganic fertilizers, pesticides and other dangerous geo chemical, and physical strenuous tasks such as carrying heavy loads. Across all regions, significant shares of children in child labour are out of school. 1 out of 10 children is in child labour. In Africa, as elsewhere, children living in rural areas are the most at risk of child labour.
A BOY CHILD LABOURING IN THE FARM.
Children are trafficked for various forms of forced labour like domestic work, begging, working as herd boys as in the case of Malawian children trafficked to Mozambique in search of jobs. Some of the children have sad stories of how they suffer ill- treatment and how they had to foot long distances returning home after exploitation experiences away. In Africa, 81.4% of children in child labour work as a contributing family member. The vast majority of children in child labour in Africa work in agriculture (80.7%). The Africa we want is a continent free from child labour. More than 1 in 4 children aged 5 to 11 and nearly half of children aged 12 to 14 in family based child labour are in work likely to harm their health, safety and morals. High levels of child labour dampen future growth by interfering with children's education and physical development, leading to a less productive adult workforce. One of the root causes of child labour is the perception that adult labourers are expensive and unavailable. Child labour severely constrains children's prospects for decent work in youth and adulthood as well as their overall life potential, setting them up for intergenerational poverty. We must take action against child labour today.
A GIRL CHILD LABOURING IN THE FARM.
Without mitigation measures, the number of children in child labour could rise from 160million in 2020 to 168.9million by the end of 2022. Its time to take action for children everywhere. We believe every child has a right to a labour free childhood, education without disruption and social protection. Let's make the world labour free for children. Ending child labour by 2025 and protecting children's rights should be everyone's collective responsibility, together we all can achieve this goal.
#EndChildLabour2022 #ILO #IYECL2022 #GlobalGoals #SDGs #SDG2030 #Agenda2030 #SDGgoals #unschools #nigeriasdgs #ossap_sdgs #Kaduna #Nigeria #undpnigeria #un_nigeria #undp #WorldBank #euinnigeria #ukinnigeria #usinnigeria #eu_partnerships #EU #japan_in_nigeria #unitednations.
Comrade Enobong Ekwere is a social influencer, blogger, human rights activist, SDGs advocate and a global citizen. He is the program manager of children and young people living for peace (CYPLP) a youth focused and a think-tank non-governmental organization based in Kaduna, Nigeria. He can be reached via: Tel: +2347082558952
Email: julyenobong2020@gmail.com
: enobongekwere825@gmail.com
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/enobongekwere
Website: www.cyplp.net.ng
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