Our Message for YOU

Childhoods stolen by child labour. Help end it. Join us.

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), approximately 1 in 10 children worldwide is involved in child labour, with 72 million of them engaged in hazardous work. This means that millions of children are being robbed of their childhoods, education, and basic human rights. It's time to take action and put an end to this global issue.

million childhoods stolen

child dies every 5 seconds

percent are in agriculture

million in hazardous work

We are a dedicated team of undergraduate students from York University, driven by a shared passion to create a website that sheds light on the harsh reality of child labour. Our goal is to provide concise and informative resources that will help raise awareness about this critical issue and empower people to take action against it. Together, we believe that we can make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children around the world.

At our core, we believe that every child deserves a childhood free from exploitation. That's why we're dedicating our time and effort to create a website that provides clear and concise information about the prevalence of child labour in the manufacturing sector. Our aim is to raise awareness about this issue and empower individuals to take action towards ending child labour once and for all.

All children deserve a childhood free from exploitation. It's our duty to hold manufacturing companies accountable and demand an end to child labour in their supply chains. Join us in the fight for children's rights and a brighter future for all.

Our website stands out by offering easily accessible and concise information about the prevalence of child labour, allowing visitors to quickly gain a deeper understanding of the issue and take meaningful action to end this injustice.

Challenge manufacturing companies to abolish child labour practices in their supply chains.

1. Increase awareness about the impact of manufacturing sector on child labour
2. Visibly contribute to the public discussion and policy to improve the life of child labourers
3. Directly increase our impact on child labour eradication by amplifying the voices of those already doing the work.
About Us

Empowering Action Against Child Labour: Our Mission, Vision, and Unique Approach

We're a team of York University students dedicated to ending child labour. Our website offers concise, informative resources to raise awareness and empower people to take action. Together, we can make a difference for vulnerable children worldwide. Join us in the fight for their rights and a brighter future.

Responsibility

Take Responsibility: Let's End Child Labour Together

Child labour is a global issue that affects millions of children around the world. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), there are approximately 152 million children involved in child labour, with 72 million of them engaged in hazardous work. These children are forced to work long hours, often in dangerous and unhealthy conditions, for very low wages.


As responsible citizens, it is our duty to take action and help put an end to child labour. We can start by raising awareness about the issue and its impact on children's lives. Many people are not aware of the prevalence of child labour or the devastating effects it has on children's physical, emotional, and mental well-being.


1. Educate others on the laws related to child labour.


2. Promote responsible consumption to prevent child labour. Consumers have the power to make ethical choices and support companies that have responsible supply chains.


3. Prevent child labor in supply chains by addressing root causes like poverty and lack of access to education.


To end child labour, we need a collective effort by raising awareness, promoting responsible consumption, fostering accountability, and preventing child labour in supply chains. Let's work together to ensure a brighter future for all children.

Take Responsibility
Advocacy

Advocacy for Child Labor

1. Raise awareness: The first step in advocating against child labor is to raise awareness about the issue. Spread the word through social media, online campaigns, and other channels to educate people about the harsh realities of child labor.


2. Support organizations: There are many organizations working to combat child labor, such as the International Labor Organization, Child Labor Coalition, and Human Rights Watch. Donate to these organizations or volunteer your time to support their work.


3. Empower families: Many families resort to child labor because they are living in poverty. To combat this, we must work to empower families through education, job training, and access to financial resources.


4. Take legal action: Companies that profit from child labor must be held accountable for their actions. Take legal action against companies that use child labor and support legal efforts to strengthen laws that protect children from exploitation.


5. Lobby for stronger laws: Advocate for stronger laws and regulations that protect children from exploitation and ensure their rights are respected. Write to your elected representatives, attend town hall meetings, and join advocacy groups to make your voice heard.


6. Provide education: Education is a powerful tool in the fight against child labor. Support programs that provide education and vocational training to children who have been forced to work, so they can escape the cycle of poverty and exploitation.


7. Advocate for fair trade: Support fair trade products that ensure workers are paid fair wages and work in safe conditions. By supporting fair trade, you can help reduce demand for products made using child labor.


In summary, advocating against child labor requires a multifaceted approach that involves raising awareness, supporting organizations, empowering families, taking legal action, lobbying for stronger laws, providing education, and supporting fair trade. Through our collective efforts, we can work towards a world where children are no longer forced to work and can instead enjoy their childhoods in safety and security.

Free the Childrens' Hands
Integrity

Integrity in Action: Ending the Cycle of Child Labour

It's hard to imagine what life would be like if we were robbed of our childhood, forced to work long hours in dangerous and unhealthy conditions just to make ends meet. But for millions of children around the world, this is their harsh reality. They are trapped in the cycle of child labour, stripped of their innocence and dignity, and subjected to physical and emotional abuse. As we go about our daily lives, it's easy to forget about these children, but we must never forget that they are human beings, just like us, who deserve to be protected and cherished.


Integrity is crucial in the fight against child labour. We must hold companies accountable for their actions and demand that they take responsibility for their supply chains. As consumers, we have the power to make a difference by making ethical choices about the products we buy and the companies we support. By promoting transparency in supply chains and encouraging ethical labour practices, we can help create a world where children are not exploited for profit.


But it's not just about making ethical choices as consumers. We must also advocate for stronger laws and policies to protect children from exploitation, and support organizations working towards eliminating child labour. By working together with integrity, we can ensure that no child is forced to endure the horrors of child labour.


In conclusion, we must remember that every purchase we make has an impact on the world around us. By choosing to support companies with transparent supply chains and ethical labour practices, we can help create a world where all children are free to be children. Let's work together with integrity to put an end to child labour, and ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment.

Let's End this Cycle
online degrees

Responsibility

Let's take responsibility for ending child labour. We can start by raising awareness about its impacts, educating others on laws related to it, promoting responsible consumption, fostering accountability, and working to prevent it in supply chains.

Take Responsibility
short courses

Advocacy

Advocating against child labor requires a multifaceted approach. We must raise awareness, support organizations, empower families, take legal action, lobby for stronger laws, provide education, and support fair trade. By working together, we can combat child labor and ensure that every child has the opportunity to enjoy their childhood in safety and security.

Free their hands
web experts

Integrity

Integrity is key in ending child labour. We must promote transparency in supply chains, hold companies accountable for their actions, foster ethical consumption, encourage ethical labour practices, and promote honesty and transparency in addressing the issue. Let's work together with integrity to ensure that no child is exploited for profit.

End the cycle
Informative Articles

Learn more about child labour

History, prevalence, and impact

The history and prevalence of child labour around the world

History, prevalence, and impact

The negative impacts of child labour on children's health and education

History, prevalence, and impact

The psychological effects of child labour on children and their families

Economics and corporate responsibility

The economic factors that contribute to child labour and how to address them

Economics and corporate responsibility

The role of corporations and consumer responsibility in ending child labour

Legal and policy frameworks

The legal and policy frameworks for preventing and ending child labour

Programs and initiatives

The challenges and successes of initiatives and programs aimed at eliminating child labour

Societal and cultural norms

The cultural and societal norms that perpetuate child labour and how to change them

Education and COVID-19

The role of education in ending child labour and empowering children and families

Education and COVID-19

The impact of COVID-19 on child labour and how to mitigate its effects.

Take Action

Join the Fight: How You Can Help Spread Awareness and End Child Labour

Take Action

Safety Hazards of Child Labour

“As of 2022, It's estimated that there are 160 million victims of child labour, worldwide. 79 million child labour victims work in dirty, dangerous and degrading jobs. Almost half of all child labourers are between ages 5 and 11. This accounts for almost 11% of the child population as a whole.”

“Around 1,012,863 children, 39.8% of children between the ages of 5 to 14, are child labourers in Somalia - worse in the world”

“Child labour is more prevalent among boys than girls at every age - UNICEF ”

"Children in labour increased 9 million just last year in 2022 - UNICEF"

"1 in 10 children are involved in child labour, according to data from the International Labour Organisation and UNICEF"

"The agriculture sector accounts for 70 percent of children in child labour (112 million) followed by 20 percent in services (31.4 million) and 10 percent in industry (16.5 million). "

"The prevalence of child labor in rural areas (14 percent) is close to three times higher than in urban areas (5 percent). "

"More than 43 hours of work, per week, by a child aged 15-17 "

"Approximately 4.3 million children work in forced labour, which includes children in situations of debt bondage, slavery and commercial sexual exploitation. "

"Africa tops the list of regions with the highest prevalence of child labour, accounting for 72 million of all child labourers globally. "

"Violations of child labour rules rose by 37 per cent during 2022, according to official US figures, with the number of minors discovered by the Department of Labor to be unlawfully employed increasing from 2,819 to 3,876. "

RESEARCH

What we discovered about child labour?

Slavery is where one person is owned by and made to work for another person without having any say over what happens to them. Slaves are held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase, or birth, and are not allowed to leave or to refuse to work.

Child trafficking is the illegal trading (buying, selling and movement) of children for labour or sexual exploitation. Children are trafficked for many reasons, including forced labour, prostitution and recruitment as child soldiers and beggars.

Debt bondage is forced labour, where work is exchanged to pay off loans that people cannot pay off with money or goods. For example, a poor family may hand over their child to someone to pay off their debt, and that child will have to work for years until the debt is cleared.

Serfdom is when a person is forced to live and work on land belonging to another person, often with little or no pay.

Forced Labour is when someone is made to work against their wishes. For example, Children in armed conflict are forced to fight or to work as cooks, porters and messengers. These children are abused and exploited, often being forced to kill or maim other human beings.

Sexual Exploitation is the mistreating, abusing and/or taking advantage of someone for personal gain and profit, by involving them in prostitution or commercial sexual activity.
Prostitution is the exchange of sexual activities for money.
Forms of

Child Labour





The impact of child labor on children can vary depending on the industry they are working in. Generally, child laborers may experience long-term health issues due to malnutrition, exposure to chemicals, abuse, injuries, exhaustion, and psychological harm.

In agriculture, children may come into contact with harmful pesticides or fertilizers and work with dangerous tools and heavy loads. In mining, children may be exposed to poisonous chemicals, face the risk of mine collapse, and handle explosives. In construction, children may carry heavy loads, work at high elevations without proper safety equipment, and be at risk of injury from hazardous machinery. In manufacturing, children may work with toxic solvents, perform repetitive tasks in uncomfortable positions, and face injury from sharp tools. In domestic work, children may suffer from abuse, work long hours, and experience social isolation from their families and friends.

Additionally, child labor can hinder a child's education since long working hours can make them too tired to attend classes or do their homework. For families struggling to make ends meet, sending their children to school may not be a feasible option.
Safety Hazards of

Child Labour

Nearly 1 in 10 children are subjected to child labour worldwide, with some forced into hazardous work through trafficking.





Is an agreement part of international law created by the United Nations to protect children rights and freedom. Under the CRC, there is the CRC committee that gives reports to international governments to ensure that they are implementing children rights accordingly.

1. Non-discrimination
2. Best interest of the child
3. The right to life, survival, and development
4. Respect the views of the child

Article 32: This articles establishes the child’s protection from economic exploitation; a child should not perform work that is likely to harm their health

Article 28: Establishes that every child has a legal right to education regardless of race, gender or disability.

As established by the safety issue pertaining to child labour; it is clear that it’s practice violates the following rights of the child. Most of these children are not able to seek further education as they become providers for their families. Furthermore, they work in hazardous environments that can have serious ramifications on their health.

Is a legal instrument created by governments, workers and employers to set basic rights in the workplace

There are eight ILO conventions: 1. Convention No. 29 – Forced Labour, 1930
2. Convention No. 87 – Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, 1948
3. Convention No. 98 – Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining, 1949
4. Convention No. 100 – Equal Remuneration, 1951
5. Convention No. 105 – Abolition of Forced Labour, 1957
6. ConventionNo.111–Discrimination(Employment and Occupation), 1958
7. Convention No. 138 – Minimum Age, 1973
8. Convention No. 182 – Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999.

The Convention No. 182 of the ILO is significant because all countries that ratified the latter are obliged to take urgent and direct action in prohibiting and abolishing the worst forms of child labour.
Research on

child labour international laws

There are many international treaties in place that seek to ensure every child has a voice and that it is heard.

Discover More




Researcher

Ronit Narula

Researcher

Mohammed Hamzah

Researcher

Rasanpal Singh

Researcher

Aicha Lokuli

Designer & Developer

Arianne Ghislaine Rull



Contact Us

Share Stories of Hope: Building a Good News Section on Children Escaping from Child Labour

Do you know of any stories about children who have escaped from the cycle of child labour and gone on to achieve great things? We want to hear from you! Our goal is to build a good news section that highlights stories of hope and resilience, and inspires others to take action against child labour. By sharing these stories, we can raise awareness and remind people that every child deserves the chance to live a life free from exploitation. So if you know of a story that you think should be shared, please contact us. Together, we can create a brighter future for all children.