(MENAFN- Daily Outlook Afghanistan) The continuity warhas caused a huge number of children are subject to hard labor in Afghanistan.Unfortunately, this situation has not only forced them to abandon theireducation but also paved the way for being recruited by terrorist groups.Globally, around 168 million children are engaged with hard labor in the world;thereof Afghanistan got a high place with 59% of its children are working inhard labor field while they should work on their dreams. As media quoted fromAbdul Ahad Farzam, a member of Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission,75% child labor in Afghanistan has caused by family poverty and unfavorablesocial customs. He added that war and extension of insecurity has challengedthe rule of law in provinces, and so a large number of children became thecaretaker or breadwinner of their families.
According to anestimated report reflected by Tolonews, 'Afghanistan has nearly six millionchildren engaged in the labor market, which would give it one of the highestrates in the world. Commentators have expressed grave concerns about the trend,urging the central government to take action to stem the phenomenon. Accordingto experts, there are many factors which contribute in increasing childlaborers in the country but the main factors which are mostly blamed consist ofpersisting war, unemployment and addiction with increasing number of orphansand widows in the country. Thousands of children have lost their fathers,elders and so compelled to fight for living. For example, yesterday Tolonewsgave out an interview conducted with few child laborers in Kandahar province:'Five years ago my father passed away, so we don't have any one else at homeand I am the worker, and I must find money - there is no other way for me.Likewise, it was quoted from another young worker in Helmand province, 'Howwill I find money if I go to school while my father is jobless and I have towork?
Thus, the UnitedNations Children's Fund (UNICEF) recently reported two million children underfive and 485,000 pregnant and lactating women are severely deprived of healthand food security. Nevertheless, the World Day against Child Labor has notdrown much attentions in Afghanistan even the Ministry of Labor and SocialAffairs did not trouble itself to hold even an iconic ceremony on thisoccasion. Unfortunately, the political climate in Afghanistan is so busy withhot political issues as such news areeasily forgotten and never gain its importance; we must accept that these newsis a misfortune sign for future indicating a very weak generation that easilycan trapped by terrorist groups .
Therefore, it is veryimportant to raise this issue so that it may lead to serious measures in thefuture. Children are the future citizens and leaders of this country if we haveno sound children, we would not have a sound future. However, it is appreciatedthat the government of Afghanistan has recently ratified the childrenprotection law but there are many impediments which challenge implementation ofthis law. For example, the general security is one the main challenge; manyparts of the country are completely under the control of armed opposition. Theinsecurity is not only one of the main obstacles which prevent children fromlegal protection but also impede many social and empowering programs.
Moreover, those partsof the country that are under control of the armed opposition, the children aremisused and sent to the front of the war. Hence all government andnon-government organization has to support and save the children lives andsecure their place of residence so that they can enjoy their basic rights.However, we should not put everything on the shoulder of government; we cantake part in cultivating the culture of supporting each and other, especiallyvulnerable groups of society such as women and children. There are manychildren and women, even in secure provinces that are victimized by socialcustoms, violence and lack of quality educational system.
Anyhow, the mainresponsibilities are on the shoulders of government relevant agencies to designserious plans for child promotion and social awareness. Programs such as makingshort films, short TV and radio shows can be effective in this regard butidentifying the factors that lead to child labor are more important for rootingout the issues. Poverty is one of the main causes of child labor in Afghanistanand many countries in the world but many years of war and violence haveunprecedentedly increased poverty in Afghanistan, and many families havedifficulty in providing their daily living.
Consequently, it isnecessary to eliminate poverty so that no family compelled to impose hard laboron their children. Besides, theexistence of child labor is a sign of social classification in society. Infact, they are the indicators that some parts of society are deprived of equalopportunities. Child labor increases wealth accumulation to those who exploitchildren, thereby it increase the social class distances, increase poverty andprevent children from gaining sufficient knowledge and skills; As a result, itreduces the productivity of labor in the community. Given the above, thegovernments should strive to eliminate the class distances in society withdistributing economic resources equally so that all citizens. Last but notleast, the government should ensure that no children are misused by terroristgroups in Afghanistan.-
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