On the occasion of the International Day Against Child Labor, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) states that children, especially girls deprived of education, are more exposed to hazardous work and exploitation.
In a message published on its X account, UNAMA noted that children across Afghanistan are engaged in “difficult and dangerous” work in roads, markets, farms, mines, and workshops.
Today (Friday, June 12) marks the “International Day Against Child Labor,” which is celebrated this year under the slogan “Red Card to Child Labor: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults.”
In part of its message, the organization emphasized that children should have the “opportunity to learn, play, and grow in a safe and healthy environment.”
The UN office stated: “When children, especially girls, are deprived of education, they are more vulnerable to early, harmful work and exploitation.”
It further mentioned that the caretaker government’s restrictions against women’s work often compel families to rely on child labor to meet their economic needs.
UNAMA added that children deserve equal opportunities for play, access to education, and protection against exploitation, abuse, and harm.
It is worth noting that the situation of children in Afghanistan is consistently reported as dire.
According to statistics from relevant UN agencies, by the year 2025, over 2.2 million girls will be deprived of education due to restrictions, more than one million children have turned to hard labor due to the spread of poverty, and over 3.5 million children under five are suffering from malnutrition due to hunger and food insecurity.
