31% Afghan Child
Labourers Work For 9-15 Hours Per Day
Kabul, Sunday 11 June
2006 The
Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) releases its
research report on the situation of child labourers in Afghanistan,
which is the result of extensive field research activities across
the country. The data collection exercise began in July 2005 and the
research findings were analysed and the conclusions drawn in April -
May - 2006.
The present study
indicates that child labourers in Afghanistan are lacking all forms
of protection and care by the State and their number is increasing
on a day-to-day basis.
In general, 18,443
children and 501 adults were interviewed by 40 AIHRC staff and
volunteers.
In order to prepare this
report, the research focused on child labourers in areas such as
age, gender and type of work. In addition, the access by child
labourers to education, working hours and factors leading to the
employment of children are among the issues covered in the research.
Afghanistan ratified the
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1994 and is,
therefore, bound to its implementation. Additionally, efforts have
been made to make use of the International Labour Organisation (ILO)
instruments and the Afghan domestic law with regard to this study.
Children are considered
one of the most vulnerable social groups and due to their vulnerable
position, child labourers are more prone to danger than any other
segment of the child community.
Some
Findings
Child labourers in Afghanistan work for 9-15 hours per day in an
average basis, It means that these children start work in the early
morning (6 am) and finish at 6-8 pm.
43% child labourers are under the age of 12 and 35% are aged 12-15.
Only 35% child labourers attend school, whose education quality has
been evaluated as too poor.
Out of the child labourers who attend school, the majority must work
to make such an attendance.
85% child labourers are boys, but this figure does not include the
uncounted number of girls who work in the house.
96% child labourers stated economic problems as their main reason to
work. But some families believed that work is useful for children.
13.4% child labourers are engaged in pedlary and 8% in street labour
including beggary.
12.4% child labourers are engaged in factories and workshops.
During the study, 1,414 child carpet-weavers were interviewed. The
child interviewees were even 6 years old and must have worked for 12
hours per day.
The Commission calls on
the State of Afghanistan to design urgent, effective programmes for
protection against child labour in the light of its national and
international child rights commitments. The report presents a series
of recommendations to the State and other responsible institutions
for protecting against child labour and preventing the number of
child labourers from further increasing.
The
report will be accessible in English, Dari and Pashto at the AIHRC
website after the press
conference, which is due to be held on Sunday, 11 June 2006, AIHRC
Conference Room.
