Standing Up for Children: Celebrating International Child Labour Day- History, Significance, Slogans & Facts

Updated January 12, 2023

Child labour day or world day against child labour is celebrated on June 12, every year. Its celebration started in 2002 when the International Labor Organization (I.L.O.) declared it an international day. The purpose to celebrate this day is to raise awareness among people about the need to prevent it vigorously.

Today, around 160 million children are still labour, Spreading Awareness only is not enough, we’ll have to take serious steps and find ways to eradicate it from the roots. More than half of these children are trapped in some worst form of child labor, these are extremely illegal and hazardous like human trafficking.

Millions of children around the globe are engaged in paid and unpaid forms of work, that are not harmful to them. However, when they are either too young to work, or are involved in hazardous activities, they are classified as child laborers.

History of Child Labour Day

Child labor refers to the exploitation of children both mentally and physically. In developing countries, more than one in every four children (ages 5 to 17) is engaged in labour. It is a detriment to the health and development of children.

Child labor has existed in many forms throughout history. Children working like adults have been documented from the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, in which they used to work twelve hours a day. To maintain the rapidly industrialized economies of Western nations, they required more and more labor and the best source available to them as children.

Earlier, a single man of the house was enough to feed his family but the economic recession during the industrial revolution wreaked havoc on the common man and his family. Minors and women were forced to work in factories to earn enough money to maintain their existence, and this exploitation of children as a source of cheap labour has continued ever since.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) adopted Convention No. 138 in 1973, which focused on the minimum age for employment. Its goal is for member states to raise the minimum employment age and eliminate child labor.

Timeline

• 18^th Century: The Industrial Revolution
• 1831: Royal Commission
• 1910: Over Two Million Children Employed
• 2002: I.L.O. inaugurates the first Child Labor Day

How to Observe Child Labour Day

1. Donate for a cause: Many non-governmental organizations are fighting to end child labor, and your donations can help them ensure a kid’s future. Volunteer your time if money is an issue.
2. Organize an awareness session: Aware and Educate your friends and people around you about how Child Labour is destroying the lives of children. Encourage them to make donations to help families that are living in poverty.
3. Attend I.L.O. and U.N-sponsored events: Attend such events since they will strengthen your knowledge and commitment to the cause. Make a contribution by volunteering for such activities.

Why Child Labor Day is Important?

We celebrate this day to aware people of how dangerous child labour is. Many organizations are working on this to eradicate it. It’s not easy to remove it completely from our world in one day.

It is a long process, we all will have to come together and find ways to make this world free of this havoc for children. So, instead of talking let’s do something.

How to Stop Child Labour?

There are several ways to stop child labor:

Enforcing laws and regulations: Governments can enforce laws and regulations that prohibit child labor and protect the rights of children. This includes enforcing minimum age laws and holding employers accountable for violating child labor laws.

Providing education: Education is a powerful tool to combat child labor. When children are in school, they are less likely to be exploited for labor. Governments and NGOs can work together to provide education to children, especially in poor and remote areas, and to provide incentives for families to send their children to school.

Creating economic opportunities for families: Families are often forced to send their children to work because they cannot afford to support them. To combat this, governments and NGOs can work together to create economic opportunities for families, such as through microfinance programs, and other forms of support.

Raising awareness: Raise awareness about the issue of child labor and the impact it has on children and their families. This can be done through media campaigns, public events, and educational programs.

Supporting organizations that work to end child labor: Support organizations that work to end child labor, either by donating money or volunteering time.

Supporting fair trade: Supporting fair trade organizations and products can help ensure that children are not used in the production of goods.

Using your consumer power: Avoid buying products that are known to be produced by child labor and instead choose products that have been certified as child-labor-free.

Encourage companies to adopt policies and practices that prohibit child labor in their supply chains.

Encourage governments to ratify and implement international conventions on child labor, such as ILO Convention No. 182.

Facts About Child Labour

1. Child labor is not just a problem in developing countries, it also exists in developed countries, including the United States.
2. Many children who are forced to work do not attend school and therefore miss out on education, which will limit their opportunities in the future.
3. Children who work in hazardous conditions, such as in mines or factories, are at risk of injury or death.
4. Many child laborers work in the informal sector and are not protected by labor laws.
5. Children who are forced to work are often subjected to physical and psychological abuse.
6. The use of child labor is often connected to larger issues such as poverty and lack of access to education.
7. Child labor is often used as a means of exploitation and a way to reduce labor costs, particularly in the global supply chain of multinational corporations.
8. Children who work in the agricultural sector are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, as they are often not protected by labor laws.
9. Children who are forced to work often face long-term consequences such as poor health and limited future opportunities.
10. Tackling child labor requires a multi-pronged approach that includes improving access to education, enforcing labor laws, and addressing poverty and inequality.

10 Slogans for Child Labour Day

1. “Children deserve a childhood, not a job”
2. “Stop child labor, start child education”
3. “Give children a future, not a job”
4. “Work for children’s rights, not their labor”
5. “No child left behind in the workplace”
6. “Children should play, not work”
7. “Let’s make childhood work-free”
8. “Invest in children, not their labor”
9. “Empower children, end child labor”
10. “Every child is entitled to a childhood, not a job”

Most Frequently Asked Questions

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