SEC S17W2: "protecting children".

Children especially those from impoverished families/ homes are mostly vulnerable to child labour. Many children are abused far away from their homes, without people to look out for them or even recognize the signs that they are being exploited and abused. According to the 2023 UNICEF report, the global child labour statistics rises to 160 million.

Child labour is defined as the injustice and unfair treatment of children through any form of work which deprives children of their childhood, their dreams, and their honour / dignity. Child labour can cause bodily and mental harm to children, and even death.

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Many children are being exploited by their families, or guardians and some are even sent to an unknown or a distance place where they are subjugated to illegal activities and works. Some of the common forms of child labour include;

1. Children under 18 years of age that are forced to marry, who doesn't consent to the marriage.

2. Children forced into prostitution or any other forms of sexual exploitation.

3. Children forced into begging.

4. Children who are forced to engage and involve into the production and trafficking of drugs or any other illegal activities.

5. Children forced into participating in armed conflicts.

6. Children forced to work in factories, farms, mines and domestic work which endanger their well-being and also hinder their long-term development.

7. Children who are being forced by their parents to work for families or an individual inorder to offset debts that cannot be settled by their parents.

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Child labour has an intense impact on the safety, health and well-being of children. Children who work in dangerous conditions in fields including mining, manufacturing, agriculture, construction, domestic services etc are exposed to harmful pesticides which endangers their health and may likely lead to death. Children that does difficult and dicey works may suffer higher levels of injury or illness, because those children due to their age and level of development are more at risk than adults to workplace hazards which can lead to a serious diseases or cause a permanent damage or harm to them. However, many types of work are physically harmful to children especially when done for long periods of time;

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the issues or health challenges include; disfigurement, spinal injuries due to the hours they have to sit, or bent or crawl in small spaces. Alcohol and drug addictions due to the exposition of children in an illicit activities. Children who are involved in begging or other crimes like stealing can turn to be the most wanted criminals due to their early involvement with criminals and gangs.

For me, every child deserves a peaceful and secure childhood and the chance to go to school. The strategies which I consider effective to eradicate forced child labour are:

1. Government should introduce and enforce laws that protect children from slavery, because most child labour happens when children are not properly protected by laws.

2. Government should increase the minimum wage and also support poor families because when salaries and wages are not enough to support the family, children are forced to work and contribute to the welfare of the family.

3. Government should promote and improve the accessibility and quality of education and make education compulsory and free for every child such that every child must go to school inorder to discourage child labour.

4. Children should be given an opportunity to speak out whenever they are forced into labour, exploited and maltreated.

I agree that children should be allowed freedom to fully follow their dreams and aspirations and to explore their unique interests and passions.

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The freedom they are allowed to helps them to develop a sense of identity and purpose. Children who are given freedom and encouraged to pursue their dreams are outspoken, they build self confidence, self reliant and able to make better decisions without seeking for the external or public validation. They also have the freedom to pursue a life path that is personally meaningful to them which in the long run enable them to experience greater happiness and satisfaction in life. Moreover, allowing children to pursue their dreams encourages them to be creative, and proffer sound and reasonable solutions to their problems. The freedom that they are allowed to lead to great discoveries, innovations and advancements.

In conclusion, Child labour is the exploitation of children which deprives children of their childhood, interferes in their education and cause mental, physical, social and emotional harm to them. The key causes of child labour are poverty, ineffective governance, and inadequate implementation of international agreements against child labour, lack of economic resources, natural disasters, lack of and access to quality education, domestic violence and neglect. Child labour takes various forms which include; sexual exploitation, engaging in illegal acts ( drugs and alcohol production and trafficking), debt bondage, various criminal activities ( theft), and working in different sectors like agriculture,

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mining, domestic services and factory work. All these activities or forms endangers their physical health and their mental health, thereby leading to a long-term health consequences. However, the most effective way to eradicate and abolish child labor is by creating awareness, discourage the employment of children, financial support and assistance by government to poor families, free and quality education and lastly government should implement and enforce the ban on child labour.