World Day Against Child Labour

The Catholic Church teaches that child exploitation is a serious violation of the dignity of the human person, with the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church n 296 stating that “Child labour, in its intolerable forms, constitutes a kind of violence that is less obvious than others, but it is not for this reason any less terrible”. In an address from the Vatican on the 2014 World Day Against Child Labour, Pope Francis urged all people to renew their commitment to protect the dignity of every child, offering children the opportunity to grow in peaceful, healthy environments that foster hope and confidence.  

According to the United Nations, children are are classified as child labourers when they are: 

“…either too young to work, or are involved in hazardous activities that may compromise their physical,
mental, social or educational development. In the least developed countries, slightly more than one in four
children (ages 5 to 17) are engaged in labour that is considered detrimental to their health and
development.” 

Almost nine out of every ten children in child labour worldwide can be found in Africa, Asia and the Pacific regions, with the Americas (11 million), Europe and Central Asia (6 million), and the Arab States (1 million) also having some form of child labour.  Child labour effects 5% of children in the Americas, 4% in Europe and Central Asia, and 3% in the Arab States. 

The impact of COVID-19 affects the poorest countries and those in already disadvantaged or vulnerable situations. These include children, particularly women and girls. In 2019 it was estimated that there were 152 million child labourers with 7 out of every 10 of these children working in agriculture. The UN asks all nations to work towards the UN Sustainable Development Goal Target that seeks an end to child labour in all its forms by 2025. 

Going Deeper: 

https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-day-against-child-labour

Prayer:

For An End to Child Labour 

God of freedom,  
we pray for all your children around the world  
who are bound by unjust child labour.  
Free them from their work so they can learn and grow.  
Heal their physical, emotional, and spiritual wounds,  
and protect them from further harm and exploitation.  

We ask that you sustain child labourers with hope  
for new beginnings in safety and peace. Amen. 

Fiona Dyball 

Artwork:

Victoria Villasana and Zabou Street Art, London, UK, 2016. 

Child Labor Free Street Art

Music:

Let them Fly by Ridma Weerawardena and Charitha Attalage
Sourced from https://www.musicagainstchildlabour.com/songs