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Protection of Children from Harmful Work

Over 85 million girls and boys are estimated to be engaged in hazardous work that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to them. Harmful work interferes with children’s education by depriving them of the opportunity to attend school or limits their attendance due to excessively long and heavy work.

Some children engaged in harmful work experience its worst forms - including slavery, forced and bonded work, child trafficking, illicit activities, and involvement in armed conflict, prostitution or pornography. Save the Children recognizes that not all forms of work are harmful. Many children and youths may benefit from being economically active, such as through light work that can be combined with school. 

Save the Children addresses the complexity of children and work in both development and emergencies contexts, by combining our expertise in child protection, economic strengthening, health and education to create opportunities for children to become healthy, educated and empowered citizens. We advocate on social protection for the prevention of harmful work, support in transition from harmful work to decent work, and conduct awareness raising programmes in communities, where children, parents and employers are involved.

Photo: Ahmad Baroudi/Save the Children

Documents (461)

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  1. Global Estimates of Child Labour: Results and trends, 2012-2016

    With the passing of the Global Development Goals, the global community renewed its commitment to ending child labour, effectively seeking to end it in all its forms by 2025. This fifth report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) investigates the

    Publication year: 2017 Publisher(s): ILO, International Labour Organization

  2. We are Campaigning for All Children: Awareness campaign and mobilization against domestic child labor in Haiti

    In Haiti, 207,000 children aged 5 to 14 are involved in unacceptable domestic work. Save the Children are campaigning for children in unacceptable domestic work situations. The national campaign "Tout Timoun Ladann" aims to raise awareness and mobilize on

    Publication year: 2017 Publisher(s): Save the Children

  3. Child Labour: The new reality for refugee children

    The number of child laborers in Jordan has more than doubled in the period between 2008 and 2017, to an estimated 70,000 child laborers among Jordanians and Syrians. While there is a lack of data, the situation is expected to be similar in Lebanon. Child

    Publication year: 2017 Publisher(s): Save the Children

  4. Inter-Agency Toolkit: Supporting the protection needs of child labourers in emergencies

    Historically, the response to child labour in emergencies has been inadequate, but it is increasingly recognised as a growing issue in many emergencies, and is no longer only considered a development issue. With children’s needs addressed more holisticall

    Publication year: 2016 Publisher(s): Child Labour Task Force | The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action

  5. Child Poverty and Child Clubs: Making time to learn, play and act for change

    Bangladesh has made much progress in socio-economic development however widespread poverty and inequalities persist, with about 32 million children continuing to live in poverty out of a total of 63 million children. Children from very poor households hav

    Publication year: 2016 Publisher(s): Save the Children

  6. The Frontrunner of Chaon: Improving the lives of children in cotton growing districts of Pakistan

    Save the Children implemented a child rights program, titled as CHAON “Children's Action against Oppression and Neglect” in 200 villages of Muzaffargarh (Punjab) and 150 villages of Sanghar (Sindh) from 2009 to 2014. This Program was implemented with the

    Publication year: 2016 Publisher(s): Save the Children

  7. Análisis de género. Niños, niñas y adolescentes trabajadores en las regiones de Cusco, Ica y Ayacucho

    Child labor is a social phenomenon that has become one of the great problems of the contemporary world. In Peru, there are 1 659 000 working children, of which 832 000 are under 14 years of age, the minimum age to be able to work according to the laws of

    Publication year: 2016 Publisher(s): Save the Children Author(s): Barrantes, Gonzalo Escalante | Takata, Carmen Barrantes | Arévalo, Liseth Vergaray

  8. Out of School and Out of Work: Risk and opportunities for Latin America's Ninis

    Children and adolescents who neither work nor go to school are often known as ‘ninis’ throughout Latin America. One in five youths in the region are living as ninis. This persistent problem, according to the World Bank Group, needs to be given closer cons

    Publication year: 2016 Publisher(s): World Bank Group Author(s): de Hoyos, Rafael | Rogers, Halsey | Székely, Miguel

  9. Every Last Child: Films

    These short films, published in conjunction with Save the Children’s Every Last Child Campaign, interview children in Lebanon and South Africa who face discrimination, neglect, and exclusion. Globally, the Every Last Child report shows there are more than

    Publication year: 2016 Publisher(s): Save the Children

  10. Children's Rights: The ultimate definition of sustainability

    Children’s rights are an essential investment in a sustainable future. Safeguarding these rights helps build the strong, well-educated communities that are vital to creating stable, inclusive and productive societies. The private sector impacts children’s

    Publication year: 2016 Publisher(s): Save the Children Author(s): Höök, Lina | Lignell, Mats

  11. Working to End Violence Against Children: Save the Children's Child Protection 2016-18 Thematic Plan

    Save the Children's child protection thematic plan for 2016-2018 presents Save the Children's goals and targets to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and contributions to Save the Children's 2030 breakthroughs: No child dies from preventable

    Publication year: 2015 Publisher(s): Save the Children

  12. Save the Children's Child Protection Video

    The Child Protection Initiative has produced an animated video that communicates Save the Children's child protection work and the impact on children's lives as seen by children. "Violence against children is no longer tolerated" is the new Global Breakth

    Publication year: 2015 Publisher(s): Save the Children

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