World Day Against Child Labour: A Call to Action

June 12th marks World Day Against Child Labour, a day dedicated to raising awareness and taking action against child labour. Read on to learn more about child labour and how we’re taking a stand against exploitation.

At Hope and Homes for Children, we believe that every child deserves a safe and loving family, free from abuse. Yet right now, all around the world, children are being forced into child labour. It’s not right, and it has to stop.

Today, we’re standing side-by-side with a global movement to end child labour, calling on leaders to bring children out of harm’s way and back to family.

World Day Against Child Labour poster by International Labour Organisation — June 12th is World Day Against Child Labour 2024. ILO (International Labour Organisation)

What is child labour?

Child labour is the exploitation of children through work. Children are forced into harsh employment that robs them of their freedom, their dignity, and all too often, their childhood.

How does child labour harm children?

Child labour often means long hours, dangerous conditions, lack of supervision and lack of regulation. Children are often cut off friends and family, vulnerable to exploitation and trafficking.

The consequences of child labour can last a lifetime. Not only are children impacted by physical and psychological abuse, but they’re also often deprived the chance to get an education. This perpetuates the cycle of poverty, limiting their opportunities.

A child writing on Paper. Education — All children deserve an education, but child labour cuts them off from school, community and personal development.
April Walker / Unsplash

How many children are forced into child labour?

According to Anti-Slavery International, one in ten children around the world are currently living through child labour. One in ten.

Orphanages and child labour

Sadly, children living in orphanages are at risk of being placed into child labour.

Separated from their families, they’re exposed to violence, abuse and neglect. Sometimes, this means trafficking. With no one to take care of them, children in orphanages are at a disproportionately high risk of being forced into labour.

The worst part? Over 5.4 million children are currently living inside orphanages. Vulnerable of being forced into child labour.

Read more about how orphanages harm children all around the world.

World Day Against Child Labour Poster — Research proves that 80% of children in orphanages aren’t actually orphans. They’ve been wrongfully separated from home.
Hope and Homes for Children

Standing up and making a difference

To stand up against child labour, we need to come together across governments, non-profits, and civil society and say no to the loss childhoods. No to abuse.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and other advocacy groups play a huge part in pushing for change, sharing child labour statistics and child labour facts to create change. You can read more about this work on their website.

How we’re helping

At Hope and Homes for Children, we’re working to build a better future where no child is ever wrongfully separated from their family. Thanks to your support, we’re standing up against child labour in three key ways:

Reforming child care systems – we collaborate with local governments and international organisations, platforming the voices of children and prioritising their safety.
Reuniting families – your generosity helps us get children out of orphanages, where they’re at risk of being trafficked for child labour, and back to family.
Supporting families – thanks to your support, we’re able to give families the help they need to stay together, preventing the conditions that lead to child separation in the first place.

Children deserve support in this world day against child labour — Children deserve the love of home and the support of family. Never orphanages. Never exploitation.
Rod Lon / Unsplash

How you can help stop child labour

Everyone has a role to play to support child labour solutions. Here are some ways you can make a difference:

Donate today: Your generosity can provide direct support to children and families in need.
Get informed: Learn more about child labour, how to identify it, and how you can help put a stop to the exploitation of children. You can even find different organisations that help you to volunteer to stop child labour.
Speak out: Join the fight to end child labour, support child labour campaigns, and spread the word about the importance of ending child labour in your network and on social media.

Head over to our Get Involved page to learn how you can help get children back to family. Where they’re safe.

Children United in world day against child labour — On World Day Against Child Labour, join hands and come together against child exploitation and abuse.
Hope and Homes for Children

Thank you

On World Day Against Child Labour, let’s join forces to ensure every child grows up in a safe, loving environment. Together, we can create a world where child labour is a thing of the past – getting children out of harm’s way and back to family.