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| Kathmandu, Friday February 21, 2003 Falgun 09, 2059. |
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Menace of child labour
The ILO’s (International Labour
Organisation) recent announcement that, out of 246 million-child labour across the world,
179 million are caught in the worst forms of labour is a horrific figure. It’s even
more appalling to know that over 60 percent of the total number of economically active
children come from our region, the Asia and the Pacific.
Nepal has been criticized for the use of child
labour in the carpet factories, in stone queries, as bonded labourers, and recently as
child soldiers. According to a recent report about 26 percent of over nine million
children are involved in some kind of labour. Out of these, the majority are bonded
labourers, many working in factories, a big number in households as servants, and some are
in the streets, and 100 in prison. The armed conflicts have created an undisclosed number
of child soldiers. Even worse, every year 5-7 thousand girls are smuggled to India for
prostitution.
Cases like these and more should be provocative
enough for the ILO to act, and pressurize states to act firmly. Many countries, including
Nepal being the signatory of ILO Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labour, are
definitely obliged to comply with the convention. The convention has a clear guideline of
action to end the most exploitative and hazardous forms of child labour as a matter of
urgency. But the figures and ILO finding indicate that not much has happened in improving
the situation.
Poverty is certainly the major but not sole
factor in child labour. In addition, inequality, lack of education, agricultural society,
traditions and cultures are also playing major roles in snatching away the childhood.
Respective governments obviously can do a lot in improving the situation of child
labourers in the region, but unfortunately, the destitute children have not received much
from any governments. Thanks to the non-governmental organisations, there has been certain
relief.
But the fire-brigade approach alone cannot solve
such a problem. It needs a sustained campaign and commitment to avail children of their
rights. Right to education, bringing deprived lots over the poverty line and reducing
unemployment are measures that could take the children away from the present situation.
But the social awareness about the child rights, and free and easy access to education are
equally necessary to prevent children from going to the stone queries or carpet factories.
The contributions of the ILO and the
international community in reducing the practice of child labour in the region have shown
positive results. Besides fixing responsibility on the government and other agencies
concerned for the failure to implement international commitments, it is also encouraging
the civil society and NGOs to campaign against it. The trafficking on women that includes
forced prostitution of girls has now become an agenda of common concern for the region.
Similarly, the use of child soldiers is something which is being opposed and prohibited by
law but, more than laws, proper management of education, health and distribution of other
basic needs would, in the long-term, ensure drastic downsizing of the evil of child
labour. |
