Context
- Every year on June 12, the World Day Against Child Labour is observed on June 12 in almost 100 countries all around the globe.
Theme-Covid-19: Protect Children from Child Labour, now more than ever!
- The ILO launched World Day Against Child Labour in 2002, after which it is annually celebrated to raise awareness about the plight of child labourers worldwide.
Some Facts on Child Labour:
- 152 million children globally who are engaged in child labour, 72 million of whom are in hazardous work.
- child labour has declined by 94 million since 2000,
- The rate of reduction slowed by two-thirds in recent years.
- Africa ranks highest among regions both in the percentage of children in child labour (1/5th) and the absolute number of children in child labour (5 million)
- Asia and the Pacific ranks second highest in both these measures
- As per Census 2011, there are more than 10 million child labourers in India
- Child labour is concentrated primarily in agriculture(71%)
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
- Adopted by the UN General Assembly on November 20, 1989.
- India ratified in 1990 — extends to individuals up to the age of 18.
- Recognizes the right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child’s education, stated Article 32 of the CRC.
- India has ratified the ILO Conventions 182 and 138towards the elimination of child labour.