Why is World Day Against Child Labour Important for Protecting Children’s Rights?
Every year on June 12, this day is observed to make people around the world aware of how some children are being unfairly made to work. It encourages everyone to come together to stop this.
The day highlights the problems faced by children who are working instead of going to school. Child labour means making children below 14 years old work in places like homes, shops, farms, or factories—usually because of poverty, family pressure, or exploitation.
This day reminds us that it’s everyone’s duty to make sure children get proper education, are kept safe, and grow up in a healthy environment.
Even though there has been some improvement, millions of children still work in unsafe and unhealthy conditions, which harms their body and mind.
As part of the awareness, experts have also shared health advice—like being careful when giving fruits such as litchi to small children, as it can be risky if not eaten properly.
Widespread Presence of Child Labour
According to the United Nations, Africa has the highest number of children doing child labour. Around 1 in every 5 children in Africa is involved in this, which adds up to 72 million children.
Asia and the Pacific come next, with 7% of children working—about 62 million children in total.
Out of the 138 million children involved in child labour around the world, 54 million are working in dangerous jobs, like in mines.
Together, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific make up almost 90% of the world’s child labour cases. The rest are found in:
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- The Americas – 11 million children
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- Europe and Central Asia – 6 million children
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- Arab States – 1 million children
In terms of percentage:
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- 5% of children in the Americas are involved in this
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- 4% in Europe and Central Asia
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- 3% in the Arab States
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