Child Labour in Nepal
Out of 9.2 million children, 2.6 million children of age 5-14 years work as child workers. Statistics In Nepal, total child population below 16 years of age is 9.2 million, which is 41% of the total population.
Forms of Child Labour existing 1. Agricultural Children are involved in production of Maize, Rice, Millet, Wheat etc in Nepal
2. Industrial Children are used as a labour force at Carpet factory, Confectionary, Welding, Pottery, Circus, Music, Commercial Advertisements, Transportation Work etc.
3. Mines and Kilns, Children working at Coal Mines, Brick Kilns, Stone Quarry
4. Informal sector Children working in Rag-picking, Tea-shops and Restaurants, Porter, Scavenging, Shoe Shinning, Street Vendoring, Rickshaw Driving etc.
5. Construction Works Children working at Road, House, Sewage, Hydro-power construction etc.
6. Plantation Children working for production of Tea, Sugarcane, Tobacco etc.
7. Domestic Service Children, especially girls, provide domestic services for Child Care, Kitchen Work, House Cleaning, grazing cattle, etc
8. Other Worst Forms of Child Labour Bonded Labour, Child Sex Trade, Trafficked children etc.
Almost the same number of child labour in Nepal is adult unemployment in the labour market
Challenges 1. Lack of Awareness on Child Labour 2. Lack of Laws and Regulations and their implementation 3. Lack of Political Commitment and Will 4. Lack of Integrated and Coordinated Actions 5. Lack of Sustainable Programmes and Resources 6. Lack of Follow-up, Monitoring and Evaluation
Solution to Child Labour Ensuring Education for all Children
Protection of Children, especially from trafficking and other forms of violence
Protection of children from the conflict situation
Child Labour and Education 1.7 million working children do not have any access to education. And these out of school children are involved in different forms of child labour for survival and family subsistence
Number of girls, who drop out of school are more than the boys since girls are more involved in child labour than the boys. An increase in number of children in schools is a decrease of number of children in labour market.
STRATEGIES: Ensuring Free and Compulsory Primary Education Promoting Meaningful Education for Social Change
Children and Conflict
USE OF CHILDREN IN CONFLICT -Child Porters - Child Soldiers - Cooks -Spies -Messengers
Impact of conflict on children in Nepal Orphaned Displaced Abducted Arrested Killed Injured Increased child trafficking
Traumatized- long term psychological impact Increase in child labour trend School destruction Witnessed violence
Co-relation between Child Labour and conflict They run away from villages and come to city They are compelled to survive in the street Migrated and Displaced children turn into child labour for their own and family s survival.
Many children are lured of better life and trafficked to neighboring countries Their education get halted and they start working.
STRATEGY Implementation of the declaration of CZOP (Children as Zones Of Peace)
TRAFFICKING 17.8% of children at risk are the victims of trafficking and child sex abuse. Every year 5000 to 7000 women and children are believed to be trafficked in India.
Issue of trafficking in children and child sex abuse is traditionally viewed as welfare issue than a rights issue.
Trafficking in children not only takes place for sexual exploitation, but for other labor exploitation such as bonded labor, domestic service, camel jockeying, work in circus, in the farms, and for forced begging and marriage
Consequence gives rise to vicious circle of poverty, womens /girls exploitation.
Strategies 1. Preventive Action Building social awareness in family, community, school and working areas regarding the issue. Lobbying and advocating for implementing national laws and national plan of action. Organize local and national level campaign against trafficking and child sex abuse.
2. Protective Action Providing emergency support through establishing helpline, transit centers and emergency centers for benefit of children in crisis. Organizing rescue action in collaboration with Nepal Police/Children and Women Cell and other responsible authority. Filing legal cases at the court to fight for the rights of child survivors of trafficking and child sex abuse.
3. Social Re-integration Facilitating Social Re-integration through involvement of children in various activities at the transit centers Providing relevant education and capacity building training for empowerment, selfreliance and social reintegration of children in crisis and facilitating self sustainable social re-integration
3. Social Re-integration cont..d Providing family counseling and community conscientization for an effective social reintegration Promoting children s participation to bring forward children s views to effectively address their issue
We must get an opportunity to enjoy our rights!!