World Child Hunger Day: What is All About? On June 12, people around the world come together to fight against child slavery. The problem is...
World Child Hunger Day: What is All About?
On June 12, people around the world come together to fight against child slavery. The problem is worst in Africa, where one out of every five children is affected and 72 million children are affected.
The 12th of June is the International Day Against Child Labor.
In 2023, "Social Justice for All: Let's End Child Slavery" will be the theme of the day.
The United Nations made the day official, and since 2000, the world has made a lot of progress in getting rid of child slavery.
But in the last few years, families have fallen into poverty because of wars and the COVID-19 virus.
Millions of children have had to work to help support their families.
There are 160 million underage workers in the world today, which means that one in ten children are being mistreated.
The problem is even worse in Africa, where 72 million children, or one out of every five, are overweight or obese.
After Africa, Latin America has 11 million children, Europe and Central Asia have 6 million, and Arab countries have 1 million.
According to data from the International Labor Organization and the World Food Organization, 70% of the children who eat their sweat are involved in gardening or raising animals.
112 million children, both boys and girls, work long hours in dangerous places.
Children's rights are broken when they are forced to eat and sweat, which puts their health and schooling at risk.
This problem is common because people in the area are poor and there aren't enough programs to help and protect the weak.
In Minna, Niger State, Nigeria, TRT Afrika spoke with Nura Ahmed Muhammad, who is the general director of the Mufarka organization and is in charge of youth affairs, and Mrs. Dorathy Nuhu Akevona, who is the head of an organization that works to protect children's rights.
Meaning how often children eat and sweat.
Lawyer Nura Ahmed Muhammad says, "Eating the sweat of children is used to do things, which means they won't be able to live with respect and safety.
"Childhood is a big step, and it needs to be taken care of."
Mrs. Dorathy also said that child labor is "putting or hiring children under the age of 18 to work in such a way that they can't go to school or do things that children like to do in order to grow."
When children are used to make food or sweat, they are often enslaved, abused, or tortured, which hurts the society.
This practice slows the growth of older children because it keeps them busy with things they haven't done before. This can affect how they turn out as adults.
Some of its kinds are:
1) Children's advertising
Children in Nigeria do a lot of different things, like selling things on the street, which is common all over the country.
There are kids on the streets, in the stations, and in the shops. The worst part is that they are running the business instead of going to school.
Families and relatives are responsible for taking care of and protecting the respect of their children. But in places where women can't work outside the home, children are pushed.
Poverty is not a reason because parents have the right to care for their kids so they can have a better life.
2) Work at home
Children under the age of 18 work in households. Most of them are taken to houses in the cities, where they have no one to support them and no family ties.
Nura Ahmed, a lawyer, said that the act is like slavery, which is against the law.
Mrs. Dorathy Nuhu said, "We've seen in the past few years that children are abused and held down during the holidays. Their health isn't taken care of, they aren't traded, and they are beaten and insulted."
Some people say they will take them to school but don't. Even when they are in school, they can't pay attention to what they are learning.
3) Child prostitution
Children are kept in brothels and forced to work with adults without anyone looking out for their health or freedom.
There are also children whose lives are ruined who are seen in hotels, clubs, and dance halls.
Mrs. Dorathy Nuhu said, "Even though the Nigerian government passed the Child Rights Protection Act in 2003, most people still don't know what it says, and its rules aren't being followed properly."
4) Trying to learn a trade in a bad place
It's a good idea to teach kids a trade, as long as it's done in a way that lets them study and learn a skill without having to do work that's too hard for them.
In towns, children often farm or raise animals, which keeps them from going to school, playing sports, or having fun.
Children work in grocery stores, auto repair shops, brick factories, building sites, garbage collection, and other jobs that are bad for their physical and mental health.
5) Beg and beg
Children can be seen begging on the streets and alleys, especially in cities, where some of them are left in front of their parents with no money.
