Saltillo United Nations Simulation

Background to topic:

Millions of children work to help their families in ways that are neither harmful nor exploitative. However, UNICEF estimates that around 150 million children aged 5-14 in developing countries, about 16 per cent of all children in this age group, are involved in child labor (UNICEF 2011 State of the World’s Children). ILO estimates that throughout the world, around 215 million children under 18 work, many full-time. In Sub Saharan African 1 in 4 children aged 5-17 work, compared to 1 in 8 in Asia Pacific and 1 in 10 in Latin America (ILO 2010 Facts on Child Labor). Although aggregate numbers suggest that more boys than girls are involved in child labor, many of the types of work girls are involved in are invisible. It is estimated that roughly 90 per cent of children involved in domestic labor are girls. 

Not all work done by children should be classified as child labor that is to be targeted for elimination. Children’s or adolescents’ participation in work that does not affect their health and personal development or interfere with their schooling, is generally regarded as being something positive. This includes activities such as helping their parents around the home, assisting in a family business or earning pocket money outside school hours and during school holidays. These kinds of activities contribute to children’s development and to the welfare of their families; they provide them with skills and experience, and help to prepare them to be productive members of society during their adult life.

 

Child labor is not permitted under the following conditions:

1. All forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labor, including forced or compulsory recruitment of children for use in armed conflict.

2. The use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution, for the production of pornography or for pornographic performances.

3. The use, procuring or offering of a child for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs as defined in the relevant international treaties.

4. Work, which, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children.

 

The negative effects of child labor are the following;

The difficulty of tasks and harsh working conditions create a number of problems such as premature ageing, malnutrition, depression, drug dependency etc. From disadvantaged backgrounds, minority groups, or abducted from their families, these children have no protection. Their employers do whatever necessary to make them completely invisible and are thus able to exercise an absolute control over them. These children work in degrading conditions, undermining all the principles and fundamental rights based in human nature. Additionally, a child who works will not be able to have a normal education and will be doomed to become an illiterate adult, having no possibility to grow in his or her professional and social life. In certain cases, child labor also endangers a child’s dignity and morals, especially when sexual exploitation is involved, such as prostitution and child pornography. Furthermore, a child who works will be more exposed to malnutrition. These children are often victims of physical, mental, and sexual violence.

 

Individual Perspective.

• Africa

Child labor in Africa is the employment of children in a manner that deprives them of their childhood, and is harmful to their physical and mental development. Africa has the world's highest incidence rates of child labor. The problem is severe in sub-Saharan Africa where more than 40% of all children aged 5–14 labor for survival, or about 48 million children. Poverty is considered as the primary cause of child labor in Africa. International Labor Organization estimates that agriculture is the largest employer of child labor in Africa. Vast majority are unpaid family workers.

 

• United States

Child labor in the United States is not common. There are laws that protect every single minor from any case of abuse. The United States has a special organization called Department of Labor it is a sole federal agency that monitors child labor and enforces child labor laws. The most sweeping federal law that restricts the employment and abuse of child workers is the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Child labor provisions under FLSA are designed to protect the educational opportunities of youth and prohibit their employment in jobs that are detrimental to their health and safety.

 

• Mexico

One out of every eight children in Mexico currently works. More specifically, almost 4 million out of the 29 million children between the ages of five and 17 are involved in child labor according to the most recent official figures. Nevertheless, the statistics give reason for hope: Mexico’s rate of child labor is below the average of the Latin American countries. Mexico’s direct neighbors, Guatemala and Belize, are struggling tremendously, with 21 per cent and 40 per cent of their children working respectively, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

 

• Canada

The Federal Government allows for the employment of children under the age of 17 with the provision that work be “unlikely” to endanger health or safety. Children are not permitted to work between the hours of 11:00 pm to 6:00 am. The vast majority of legislation over employment standards rests with the provinces. Federal employment standards cover approximately ten percent of employees, including children. Employment of children in federally-regulated industries would require permission from a federal Labor Standards Officer.

 

• India

India is sadly the home to the largest number of child labourers in the world. The census found an increase in the number of child labourers from 11.28 million in 1991 to 12.59 million in 2001. M.V. Foundation in Andhra Pradesh found nearly 400,000 children, mostly girls between seven and 14 years of age, toiling for 14-16 hours a day in cottonseed production across the country of which 90% are employed in Andhra Pradesh. Child Labour in India 40% of the labour in a precious stone cutting sector is children. NGOs have discovered the use of child labourers in mining industry in Bellary District in Karnataka in spite of a harsh ban on the same. In urban areas there is a high employment of children in the zari and embroidery industry.

 

Focus of the committee and important considerations.

The focus of the committee is to make delegates aware of child labor and its abuse. Taking into consideration the advantages of child labor and the laws created in order to enforce a healthy environment.

Its is important for the delegates to know that laws exist but not all of them are accomplish. It is hard to make a whole country follow a same law that benefits only innocent minors.

 

Bibliography

http://www.unicef.org/Child_Labor_Education_and_Policy_Options.pdf

http://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/topics/child/rights/en/

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/youthlabor/

http://www.hrw.org/topic/childrens-rights