TODAY IS WORD DAY AGAINST CHILD LABOUR

Child Labour is among the inhuman abuses against humanity. It is the employment of children in various works that deprives them of their fundamental human right, such as the right to attend regular school and also to recreate with their fellow children. Child labor is rampant in many developing countries. According to International Labour Organization (ILO), a total of 250 million children are working as labour in the world. The number of child labour in Africa is estimated around 80 millions. The health related issues and psychological effects of child labour are very high as children often incur various degrees of injuries through child labour.

Article 3 No. 182 of ILO Convention outlined different categories of child labour: (a) all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour, including forced or compulsory recruitment of children for use in armed conflict; (b) the use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution, for the production of pornography or for pornographic performances; (c) the use, procuring or offering of a child for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs as defined in the relevant international treaties; (d) work which, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children."

Considering the negative effects of child labour, the ILO has launched the World Day Against Child Labour to be observed every 12th day of June. World Day Against Child Labor was created in 2002 to prevent child labor “in economic and military fields.” The theme of this year's world Day Against Child Labour is Generation Safe & Healthy. The only way to build a safe and healthy generation is by protecting the right and safety of every child in the society. 

His holiness Pope Francis offers solution to child labour. According to him, "All children must be able to play, study, pray and grow, in their families." He however noted that "There are millions of children, mostly girls, who are victims of this hidden form of exploitation that often involves abuse, mistreatment and discrimination" The Holy Father then makes a passionate appeal, saying, “It is my heartfelt hope that the international community will initiate still more effective measures in addressing this authentic plague.” Free and compulsory education is a way forward!

Our Lord Jesus Christ places a curse on all those who abuse children through child labour and other immoral acts: "If anyone causes one of these little ones to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea" (Matthew 18:6). With this, Child labour and other abuses are hereby cancelled in Jesus name - Amen!