Child Labour

SPEAK WEDNESDAY ON GIRLS AT RISK: HOW GENDER BIAS FUELS CHILD LABOUR IN NIGERIA

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In Nigeria, gender bias is a silent but powerful force driving many young girls into child labour. 

According to UNICEF, over 43% of children between the age of 5 to 17 are engaged in child labour, and girls are disproportionately affected. The reasons are deeply rooted in cultural norms and economic hardships, often pushing girls out of school and into work.

Girls in Nigeria are frequently pulled out of school to support their families through labour, with many working in hazardous conditions. 

The United Nations reports that societal expectations place girls in the roles of caregivers and domestic helpers from a very young age. This unpaid labour within their own homes often extends into exploitative work outside. Tasks like hawking goods, domestic servitude, and even hazardous jobs in agriculture become their daily reality. This not only robs them of their childhood but also of opportunities for education and future economic independence. Furthermore, most of them are exposed to physical abuse, sexual exploitation, and long-term psychological harm.

What can be done? Initiatives and policies that enforces compulsory education to keep girls in school and out of labour, providing them with the tools they need to build a better future can be instrumental in fighting child labour. By challenging gender stereotypes and investing in girls’ education, we can break the chains of child labour and empower the next generation of Nigerian women.

Let’s stand together to protect our girls and ensure they have the bright futures they deserve. 

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues around gender-based violence and gender bias.

References:

– UNICEF, “Child Labour,” available at [UNICEF] https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/child-protection/child-labour

– United Nations, “Child Labour in Agriculture,” available at [UN] https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/child-labour

– World Health Organization, “Child Labour and Health,” available at [WHO] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/child-labour

 

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WORLD DAY AGAINST CHILD LABOUR

Leave a Comment / Child Labour, Child Trafficking, Speak Wednesday /

Every year, on June 12th, the world comes together to recognize World Day Against Child Labour, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the plight of child labourers globally and encouraging actions to eliminate this scourge. This year, the theme, “Let’s Act on Our Commitments: End Child Labour!” calls upon governments, organizations, and individuals to reaffirm their pledges and take concrete steps toward eradicating child labour.

Child labour is defined by the International Labour Organization (ILO) as work that is mentally, physically, socially, or morally dangerous and harmful to children. It deprives them of the opportunity to attend school and impedes their overall development. As per Business Insider (2018), child labour not only denies children their right to education but also exposes them to severe human rights violations, including sexual assault, human trafficking, and exploitation by drug dealers and armed groups.

An estimated 218 million children worldwide, aged between 5 and 17, are engaged in labour, with 152 million of them working under hazardous conditions. These children toil away in fields, factories, and homes, sacrificing their childhood and their future for survival.

In today’s reality, poverty remains a significant driver of child labour, especially in countries like Nigeria. Children are often forced to toil in harsh conditions to support their families, becoming the primary breadwinners. This harsh reality not only perpetuates the cycle of poverty but also compounds social inequality and discrimination.

While constructive activities like helping with light housework or taking on part-time jobs during school breaks can benefit children, child labour starkly contrasts by severely restricting access to education and impeding a child’s physical, mental, and social growth. For girls, the situation is even more dire, as they bear the “triple burden” of school, work, and household chores, heightening their risk of falling behind and increasing their vulnerability to poverty and exclusion.

On this day, CFHI joins the global community in reminding us that there is no justification for child labour. CFHI actively engages in awareness campaigns, educational programs, and advocacy efforts to highlight the dangers of child labour and champion systemic changes that safeguard vulnerable children from exploitation.

As UNICEF aptly puts it, “There is no reason, there is no excuse. Child labour is child abuse.” By acting on our commitments and working together, we can ensure that every child enjoys a childhood free from labour, filled with education, play, and the promise of a brighter future.

 

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SPEAK WEDNESDAY-CHILD ABUSE

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Section 28 of the Child Rights Act provides that no child shall be subjected to any forced or exploitative labour; or employed to work in any capacity where he is employed as a domestic help outside his own home or family environment.

Child labour refers to the permissible and non-permissible work done by children for a third party or an employer, which is sometimes done in hazardous situations. It is, however, important to note that this does not include reasonable household chores carried out by children under supervision in their homes which is a primary part of training children to be responsible adults in the future.

In Nigeria, child labour has persisted due to extreme poverty, lack of access to quality education, poor economic growth and the societal attitude towards child labour. Regardless of the existing laws prohibiting the practice, children are being pushed into domestic work daily just to bring additional income to support the family while facing exposure to sexual exploitation and other hazards associated with child abuse.

According to ILO, estimates determine that the current number of child workers in Nigeria is 15 million, which shows that Nigeria has the highest number of child labour in West Africa. The effects of child labour on children include both bodily and mental harm, poor or zero education, sexual or economic abuse, and other violations of child’s rights.

To eliminate domestic child labour in Nigeria, the problem of poverty should be tackled first by an overhaul of the economy to provide jobs for adult citizens of the country. Education should be made free for children from primary to secondary levels to keep children in school and lessen the financial burden on families. Also, the government should implement laws like the Child Rights Act and the Labour Act to foster the protection of children from exploitation.

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues around gender-based violence and gender bias. Join us every Wednesday on our social media platforms for more episodes.

#SpeakWednesday #ChildLabour #DomesticViolence #SDGs #EndChildLabour #PurnishPerpetrators

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World Day Against Child Labour 2021

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CHILD ABUSE

Child abuse occurs in different ways and scenarios across the globe with over a 95million children falling victim every year, according to the World Health Organization.  Africa remains the epicentre of this destructive practice which in some cases have been mistaken for discipline and justified by culture. It won’t be too early to mention here that there is a clear-cut difference between child abuse and discipline. Punishment could be essential to instil some set of values in children; however, this sort of punishment is not synonymous with putting the life of a child in danger and any punishment that harm or can harm a child has become an “abuse”.

Also, because sex is related to a temporal anti-depressant and provides relief from stress and pressure, without paying attention to family planning and the use of contraceptives, many children are born out of plan. More often than not, this case is peculiar to indigent families where children become a money-making machine for their parents thereby rendering children’s intellect futile and their emotions of no essence. Oh Yes, Children also have will, intellect and emotions. They are human!

We must consider some type of child abuse, the effect on the child and the effect of this practice on society. Until we come to the acceptance that child abuse is destructive and it happens even when parents are innocently caring for their kids, we may continue to live in the delusion that child abuse is only about sexual molestation and trafficking.

 TYPES OF CHILD ABUSE

  • Physical Abuse: This is often time what many African parents refer to as punishment or discipline. This kind of abuse is characterized by beating and hitting that could be harmful to the child. Contrarily to what parents and guardians think, excessive beating or harming a child has been proven to be counterproductive in the training of a child. “Spanking plants seed of later violent behaviour and spanking doesn’t work”- AskDr.Sears.com
  • Sexual Abuse: This is when an adult has sexual intercourse with a child. Compared to physical abuse, sexual abuse does not usually leave a glaring mark and it is more difficult to identify its victim. Yet, this abuse put children in an extremely traumatized condition.
  • Psychological Abuse: It was earlier mentioned that children also have emotions and would naturally react within them to situations that they perceive as not palatable even though they may not be able to fully express themselves or rebel.

Turning children into money making machine- having them hawk around the street or sending them to a stranger’s house to work for money/food when their mates are in school is abuse that affects children psychologically and can ruin their self-esteem. Children who are quietly forced to live this way may appear unbothered but there’s something in them that yearns for what they are deprived of. All form of neglect and denying children of their basic right, including the opportunity to play may appear negligible but this has a great impact on the well-being and growth of a child.

Also, the kind of names children are called and how they are being addressed as a way of moulding/destroying them. I think I can hear you say what! How?

Shouting at children, calling them bad names and the use of abusive words has been found destructive to the well-being of a child. Even though this might not be measurable, it becomes evident in the lifestyle of a child if not stopped. Signs may include timidity and low self-esteem

EFFECTS OF CHILD ABUSE

The effect of child abuse (of whatever type) on a child is numerous, all of which can result in mental health problem. Mental health problem is a condition yet to be given utmost attention to in Africa and our silence on this is causing us more harm than good. Statistics revealed that 1 out of every 10 children and young people suffer mental health problem as a result of their responses to their daily lives. Facts gathered by Mental Health Foundation from the World Health Organization and various researches show that “20% of adolescents may experience a mental health problem in any given year. 50% of mental health problems are established by age 14. 10% of children and young people (aged 5 -16 years) have a clinically diagnosable mental problem, yet 70% of children and adolescent who experience mental health problems have not had appropriate interventions at a sufficiently early age”.

THE GOODNEWS!

The interesting thing about child abuse is that “it is not an accident, hence, it is controllable”. Here are a few ways:

  • Love – Love is a language everyone understands, including children. Disciplining children in love without harm or bruise is effective in instilling in them moral values that are essential for attaining a beautiful future.
  • Plan for your children – The potency of a man and fertility of a woman is not tested by the number of children. Have the number of children you can cater for. Children rejoice when they have access to basic things and “their joy is not tied to the quantity or the luxury but the access and enjoyment”.
  • Befriend them – Often time adults act like they were never a child or tend to pretend like they were “holy children”. Until children know you will understand their plight, they won’t talk to you/confide in you. Children are not as ignorant as many adults think, they only shrink back out of fear and respect. When they need to talk, you should come to their mind as a parent/guardian.
  • Be Peaceful – Live at peace with your spouse and the people around you. Children learn more from what they see than what they hear. When violence is seeing as a norm around them, they may not be able to tell when they are being abused and/or become abusive. It doesn’t matter what you tell them, they are watching you!

The list cannot be covered in this article but you must be aware of child abuse, the effects and how you can contribute your quota to see that children live and live well. The effect of child abuse on society at large is enormous.

Before a family (and a Nation) can boast of a successful succession plan and an assured posterity, the quality of life and well-being of her adolescent must be evaluated.

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