2. What are children’s rights?
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child:
Adopted in 1989 – has 54 conventions which spells
out the basic human rights that children everywhere
have
The four core principles of the Convention are:
– non-discrimination; (applies to children
everywhere)
– devotion to the best interests of the child;
– the right to life, survival and development;
– respect for the views of the child
3. Some examples of the rights of children
The right to a name
and nationality
The right to free
primary education
The right to express
their views on matters
that affect them and
be listened to
The right to not be
tortured
The right to not be
abducted or sold
The right to be
protected from
dangerous and harmful
work
4. Child labour
Work which is harmful to children and their
development (physical, mental, emotional,
education and spiritual.
Work that is not appropriate for the child’s
age and is hazardous.
Affects 215 million 5-17 year olds.
5. Worst forms of child labour
Work that interferes with the
physical, mental or moral well-being
of a child either because of the
nature of the work or the condition in
which it is carried out
Affects 115 million children worldwide
6. Worst forms of child labour other than
hazardous work
8.4 million children in slavery:
•Forced and bonded labour
•Prostitution and pornography
•Forced recruitment into armed
conflicts
•Illicit activities (forced begging,
drug smuggling)
•Trafficked children
7. What kind of work do children do?
Construction
Farm work
Hotel and
restaurant work
Forced begging
Domestic
work
Prostitution
Selling fake
DVDs and CDs
Growing
cannabis
11. Consequences of child labour
Child in slavery
Cannot go to school Cannot read or write No qualifications to get
good paying job
Can be tricked by
employers into signing
documents
Tied to exploitative
employer for a long
time
Health suffers
Can end up owing debts
to pay for medication
Have to stop working and
send own children to
work
In a poor paying job
that is harmful to
health and does not
provide enough for
basics
12. Take action on slavery
Learn more at:
www.antislavery.org
Take action: Join the
Anti-Slavery
Campaigns network
and join us on
facebook
Write letters to
question
decision
makers
Buy fairtrade
goods
Start/join your
student/local anti-
slavery group