Children’s work

"The exploitation of working children is a world-wide problem. Millions of children suffer as a result of working at a too young age, too many hours and in dangerous environments. When these children grow up they are often damaged physically, emotionally, morally and intellectually. They have lost the opportunity to get an education that could have opened the door to a better future."

Anti-Slavery International (ASI)

There are basically three kinds of children’s work:

Not harmful work

Work where the child is not exploited and work that can be considered "good" for the child’s development. Light work is accepted for children from 13 years and up (12 years in developing countries.) However, it is only accepted when it doesn’t interfere with the child’s education.

Harmful work

Work that interferes with the child’s education, is dangerous or in other ways harm the physical, mental or social well-being of the child.

Slavery

Slavery is when a child is sold or given away to somebody who force him or her to work. Sometimes the parents give away their children to pay off old loans, sometimes they just do it to get food on their table. Prostitute children are often traded in this way. Slavery is illegal in almost all countries, but it takes place many places anyway.

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Photographer: Thomas Yde

The child convention