This World Day Against Child Labour, Focus On Ending The Social Evil

[sumonmsh]

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on lives and livelihoods around the world. The subsequent socio-economic fallouts of the pandemic have had a tremendous impact on the lives of millions of children who are victims of child labour, in particular, the United

 

 

Nations has observed.  As nations across the globe observe the World Against Child Labour Day on June 12, a report published by the International Labour Organization (ILO) of the UN states, "The number of children in child labour has risen to 160 million worldwide — an increase of 8.4 million children in the last four years," attributing the rise to the pandemic.  Addressing the need to put an end to the evil practice, the theme for the year is "Act Now: End Child Labour".

The theme will be observed throughout the "Week of Action" that began on June 10.  Explaining the significance of the day, the ILO report said, "Child labour reinforces intergenerational poverty, threatens national economies and undercuts rights guaranteed by the Convention on the Rights of the Child."  Additionally, 2021 is also the "International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour".

 

 

 

 

The report found that the number of children between five and 17 exposed to hazardous work has risen by 6.5 million to 79 million since 2016. Putting the overwhelming numbers of child labour victims into context,  ILO Director-General Guy Ryder said, "The new estimates are a wake-up call. We cannot stand by while a new generation of children is put at risk.”