JHALDA (Purulia), 6 Aug: The President of India, Mrs Pratibha Singh Patil stressed that people should be made aware of the adverse impact of child marriage. She lauded the decision of three girls who refused to get married. Having met them at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, she encouraged them to continue their studies.

It is surprising that child marriage still prevails even though the left front government in West Bengal made it illegal 30 years ago. Purulia officials admitted that it was a shame that awareness had not reached the remote parts of the village. They, however, expressed that they were pleased with the decision of the three village girls to rise up and take a stand against this menace. 

The state government has now come forward to rescue them. Concerned officials are keeping a close watch on the issue. They are also organising workshops and awareness programmes on child marriage in different parts of Purulia district. As a result, eight village girls who have refused to get married in order to continue their studies have been selected by the district magistrate to be felicitated by the state government in Kolkata. They are part of the national child labour project (NCPL) in Purulia district. 

The eight girls ~ Rekha Kalindi, Sumita Mahato, Afsana Khatun, Uttara Roy, Ahalaya Kumar, Arfana Khatun, Bina Kalindi and Sumita Singh Sardar ~ are all teenagers belonging to Jhalda, Joypur, Bagmundi, Kotshila and Purulia town's slum areas and tribal zones. Only Rekha Kalindi first came into the limelight when she filed a complaint at the Kotshila police station protesting her early marriage which is an offence punishable by law. She is exceptional, as she has witnessed the complaints of her sisters ~ four times in a row ~ not addressed. Another girl, Bina Kalindi who refused marriage five times ~ including once where she was not required to pay dowry ~ created a record. She is also a brilliant student. However, barring Rekha Kalindi, the 'wonder girl' of the village, seven others had some luck as their problems were solved by their teachers, government officials and local dignitaries. None of them needed to go to the police. 

Rekha Kalindi has become a role model to campaign against child marriages. She is a resident of Badrola village in Kotshila which is in Jhalda block II, a backward block with regard to literacy, economy and women's education, in particular. She protested her early marriage when she was a student of class III. She had already witnessed the repercussions of such a decision in the case of her own sister, who was treated dismally by her in-laws. 

While talking to The Statesman at her village, Rekha was profoundly affected by her elder sister, Jyotshna's marriage at the tender age of 11.“I witnessed the dark side of child marriage during my elder sister's early bethrotal and saw the need to stop child marriage and child labour.” Rekha's father Karna and mother Menaka Kalindi admitted: “We had no alternative but to arrange the marriages of our daughters in the traditional manner. How could we manage to sustain an eight-member family with an earning of less than Rs 1000, which is way below the poverty line."

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=9&theme=&usrsess=1&id=263711

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Children are being kidnapped from Tamil Nadu and forced to work in naxal-infested areas, particularly Andhra Pradesh, Additional Commissioner of Police (Headquarters) M. Ravi said on Thursday.

He was speaking at a capacity building programme for police personnel on Child Protection and Childline Services jointly organized by the Department of Social Defense and World Vision India here.

Child trafficking is a matter of serious concern. We have information that children are being kidnapped and taken to naxalite areas for work. The role of NGOs is very vital in identifying vulnerable areas. A coordinated effort is required to eradicate child abuse in all its forms, Mr. Ravi said.

He said in many instances of sexual abuse involving children, the accused persons were known to the victims.

Neighbours, relatives and school employees are often the culprits in such cases. Parents should be sensitised to the risk factors.

The Indian Council for Child Welfare Secretary Chandra Thanickachalam said child trafficking was prevalent in Tamil Nadu and Chennai was usually the transit point. When a joint operation was held a couple of years ago in Chennai where all incoming buses and trains were checked, 48 children belonging to the southern districts were rescued.

They were brought by agents for employment in Gujarat and some other northern States. The children were restored to their parents and legal action was taken against the agents who had bought them for work. At least 50 per cent of the children were aged below 14 years, she said.

Ms. Thanickachalam said Tamil Nadu was a source of supply (of women) to brothels in Mumbai. Participation of police was imperative when it came to rescuing children in brothels, industries, clandestine establishments and residential areas where they were forced to work.

In about 2,380 calls received by the Childline in the last 10 years in Chennai, children found to be victims of different kinds of abuse were rescued. Even when police are present during such rescue operations, they are insisting that the Childline should lodge a complaint. Our appeal to the police is that they should become complainants in such cases, she said.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Central) V.A. Ravikumar also spoke. At least 100 police personnel, including women, took part in the programme. They would be designated as Child Welfare Officers, police sources added.

The full horror of child trafficking is revealed by a student who tells today about the years of abuse he suffered.

A report claims hundreds of African children are being brought to London illegally to work as domestic slaves.
Tunde Jaji was about five when he was taken from Nigeria and forced to work at a home in Harringay for an African woman who said she was his aunt. Tunde, 23, said: "I would be upstairs and my aunt would shout up to me to come downstairs.

"She would order me to change the channel with the remote control which was right in front of her.
"Or else she would wake me up at two in the morning to clean the house. Even if there were just two plates in the sink she would get me up. Her husband used to beat me. He would hit me regularly.

"He would say my parents were dead and it was my fault because I was evil I don't even know if my 'aunt' was a relative or not."

A report by the Home Office-funded Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre says adults are exploiting African children for free domestic help and tens of thousands of pounds a year in bogus benefit claims. Many are sexually abused - although Tunde has no recollection of that.

After being thrown out by his "aunt" at the age of 18, Tunde contacted Lynne Awbery, his former teacher at Park View Academy, who gave him a home in Muswell Hill where she lives with her children and husband Brian Rawson.
Ms Awbery said: "When I first met Tunde he was so traumatised. He didn't know what was happening to him was wrong. He would stutter very badly. He was very anxious; he couldn't make eye contact. There is no hint of that any more. He is completely confident."

She discovered a birth certificate in Nigeria which showed Tunde was born in a suburb of Lagos on 19 June 1986. They found his mother had only died in 2001 - her death certificate gave diphtheria as the cause. His father is thought to be living illegally in the UK and had visited his son while he was with his "aunt" - but failed to reveal his true identity.
Tunde was given indefinite leave to remain in the UK on his 21st birthday and this month was accompanied by Ms Awbery to his graduation ceremony at the Arts Institute in Bournemouth where he received a 2:1 in animation production.

Debbie Ariyo, executive director of Africans Unite Against Child Abuse, said: "There are maybe 200 young people locked up in people's homes working as slaves but it's really difficult to say exactly. When they do come forward prosecutions are rare because it is the word of the child against the abuser."

A report published by CEOP in the spring identified 50 confirmed or suspected cases of children trafficked from east and west Africa, but a spokesman said the figure was likely to be higher.

CEOP says anyone with "concerns about the wellbeing of a child who may be in these circumstances" should call local police, social services or the Child Trafficking Advice and Information Line on 0800 107 7057.

De Agencia EFE – 22 de Jun de 2009

Nova Délhi, 22 jun (EFE).- Um total de 52 crianças escravas que trabalhavam no setor têxtil em condições sub-humanas foram libertadas nesta segunda-feira pelas forças de segurança indianas, com a ajuda de uma ONG, em Délhi.

O responsável pela organização Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), Kailash Satyarthi, contou à agência "Ians" sobre a dificuldade da operação, devido ao difícil acesso aos lugares onde os menores trabalhavam, construídos próximos ao esgoto, sem ventilação, nem luz natural.

"Tivemos que caminhar por charcos de águas residuais para alcançar os quartos. As crianças trabalhavam dia e noite, a 44 graus, em quartos fechados e sem ventiladores", afirmou Satyarthi.

Os menores eram obrigados a trabalhar entre 12 e 13 horas por dia, fazendo "zaris", um típico bordado do Sul da Ásia, feito com fios de ouro e prata e eram submetidos a surras de seu patrão.

As crianças de 8 a 14 anos são dos pobres estados de Bihar, no norte do país e Madhya Pradesh e Chhatisgarh, no centro, e eram obrigadas a trabalhar para um empresário que pagava uma quantia insignificante às famílias para levar-los a Délhi.

"Um conhecido deu 700 rúpias (aproximadamente 10,50 euros) a meu pai e disse que eu iria para uma escola muçulmana e faria algum trabalho ligeiro", disse Firoz, o mais jovem das crianças resgatadas, segundo a "Ians".
Mas ao chegar à capital indiana, o empresário o obrigou a costurar, depois de sessões de surras "sem motivo", além de mantê-lo fechado junto ao resto das crianças para que eles não pudessem sair à rua e contar às pessoas o que estava acontecendo, segundo afirmou o menino.

Segundo dados da BBA (em português, "Fundação Salvemos à Infância"), aproximadamente 50 mil crianças trabalham como escravos na indústria do "zari" e mais 35 crianças vítimas do tráfico de menores chegam a Délhi a cada dia.

Recently, the Akwa Ibom State was on the world map over cases of child abuse as some innocent children were labeled witches, abused and thrown out into the streets. As this army of children grew, the state government stepped in to stem the problem by  legislating against child abuse, while the governor has gone further to rehabilitate the children, attracting diverse commendation, writes MARY EKAH

Governor Godswill Akpabio's recent surprise visit to the abandoned children branded witches/wizards in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, has attracted international acclaim, with many Akwa Ibom indigenes in Diaspora describing him as a sensitive and caring leader who has impacted creditably on the lives of the citizenry. Even the governor's worst critics rose in his praises on some on-line interactive hosted by yahoo groups. Akpabio had, last week, visited the Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN) where over 200 children rejected by their parents and wards are catered for by Mr. Samuel Itauma and his wife. 
During the visit, which took even the Itaumas by surprise, Akpabio announced a N10 million donation; and the setting up of a revolving scholarship scheme that would take care of the tertiary education of the children even after he has left office. He also set up a committee to reconcile some of the children with their parents and guardians and assured them of protection from further abuse and harassment. 

Reacting to the development, Thompson Essien, one of Akpabio's critics in the Diaspora said: “The governor's visit to the CRARN centre was a very good gesture. It would have been a demonstration of uncaring attitude if such a visit did not take place.” He, however, advocated for the arrest and prosecution of those who raided the centre recently. 

A contributor to Ibom Forum, one of the on-line sites, Itoro Enang, writing from Pointe Noire, Congo, commended “ the governor for listening to the cries of the Forum and thanked him for coming to the aid of those kids”. Like Essien, he also urged that those behind the recent raid on the centre should be fished out, and the child's rights laws applied. 

Similarly, Mercy John-Ekanem in Virginia said: “I join others to commend Akpabio for listening to the pulse of the people. In spite of what government has done or the lack thereof in Akwa Ibom, Akpabio is certainly listening to the people. I hope he does this in other areas of need as well, such as creating jobs or working hard to put in place those infrastructure that would enable industries take off.” 

Enewan Ebong, the President of Mboho Akwa Ibom State, United Kingdom, said by the action, the governor has proven himself worthy of the people's mandate. “The recognition and acceptance of these children by our government is a significant move to eradicate the stigmatisation and abuse of vulnerable children and women. That irrespective of family background, all citizens have fundamental right to be seen, educated, develop well, heard and achieve. 

 “This is a clear message to rouge pastors, greedy and selfish family members who will stop at nothing but to pursue their selfish interests at the expense of the vulnerable. It is significant stand for widows and orphans and the poor in our state. Akpabio, in his political era has shown his approval by the people. This is a practical step to the implementation of human and child rights in Akwa Ibom State,” the respondent wrote. 

For Ufot Inyang, the visit could only mean an unalloyed commitment to the plights of children. “I also want to sincerely commend Akpabio once again for his magnanimity. I thank him for listening. Symbols are very important in politics. His unscheduled visit to the centre today is very symbolic of his commitment to the plight of the children. The governor deserves commendation for this recent action on behalf of the most vulnerable of our society. We are comforted to know that he listens to public concerns. 

“We thank him for listening and for taking a long overdue action with regard to the welfare of the CRARN children. They deserve to be treated with dignity and afforded a life free of basic want and insecurity. I thank the governor for the assurance of a decent education for these children, decent accommodation, expanded facilities, and to provide them with a fighting chance to make something out of their lives. I thank you Governor Akpabio for caring,” Inyang said. 

He said there was no reason, whatsoever, to doubt that Akpabio would follow through on the promises he has made to the children as well as the physical development and improvement of the facilities at CRARN. However, because laws were violated when the police from Lagos allegedly raided the centre, he urged the governor to direct the State Attorney General to get to the bottom of it, and make the culprits face the full wrath of that law.

“Please don't negotiate with Helen Ukpabio. Put her out of business at least in Akwa Ibom. She should not be allowed to prey on the fears of the people to commit havoc while smiling all the way to the bank. Thank you again governor. Thank you very much”, he submitted.

Princi (prcrist@yahoo. com), writing from Florida, was particularly impressed that the governor probably read his suggestion the previous week and implemented same promptly. He added, “Rather than moving the children to another state-run orphanage, the governor appears to recognise the commendable work the CRARN staff is doing in providing a safe, loving, and close-knit environment for the children. So the governor has chosen to leave the children where they are, but pledged to financially and materially support CRARN. See, this is good policy, and the governor's leadership in this regard is well appreciated and applauded.” 

Though Tina Ubong Mbanugo (princessut@msn.com) tried so hard to refrain from what she called “the Akpabio Praise Team (APT)”, she still could not resist “for a very worthy cause”. According to the writer, “what Akpabio has done is great,” but her concern was whether future governors would be as sensitive to continue in the same line.

 In far away London, Gary Foxcroft, the Programme Director of Stepping Stones received the news with excitement. “This is a most welcome development after a rather challenging week”, he said. 

Hope Umana, Esq broke his long silence to declare that he was “ impressed with the government's action, and further with the promptness of this current action”. For him, the governor's direct donation to the managers of the centre would go a long way to alleviate the sufferings of the inmates. “It is my understanding that the governor's donation was to CRARN directly and that is a safe bet that Sam Itauma will use that for the direct service of the children and their needs, so the congratulation is appropriate.  Donation to the direct service provider is usually a good bet”, he said, urging government to investigate and make public those behind the Itaumas' recent ordeal in the hands of the police. 

 “Finally, this matter (child stigmatisation) needs continuing education, enlightenment and pressure.  A tripod of pressure points from the state, the UK and US should continue in order to change mind-sets.  The new AG should see this matter beyond the usual and comfortable legal framework and should not hold back in using state legal powers to create impact on this matter.   The AG should understand that an effective government supports and works well with private actors and service providers.  What is in the best interest of those children should define all our actions”, he added.  

 For Ata Ikideh, the governor's visit should not be the end of the matter. Rather criticise government from the comfort of another man's land, Ikideh urges Akwa Ibomites abroad to team up and complement government's effort in assisting the deprived and abandoned children.

From California, Eno Adams another Akpabio critic, applauded the governor “for visiting the children to see about their welfare. I thank him also for his foresight in making plans to expand the centre so that these children who have bonded over time can continue to be in one place and not sent to be caged elsewhere, for that I am so delighted. Together with the administration I appeal that we continue to seek out what is in the best interest of these children”. The writer, however, exonerated the state government from the recent attack at the CRARN centre, stating: “we knew all along the administration had no hand in what took place at the centre last week”. 

In another development, Stepping Stones, a UK-based NGO has alleged that Helen Ukpabio's campaign of terror against children and those committed to fighting for their rights took a new turn last week when a large group of her supporters raided a child rights conference in Calabar and attacked a number of the delegates. The conference, which was on the theme of “Child Rights and Witchcraft”, had been organised by the Nigerian Humanist Movement and the UK charity Stepping Stones Nigeria in response to the widespread abandonment, torture and killing of children in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States due to the
belief in child 'witches'. As the day began, at around 10.30 am, a group of religious extremists dressed in orange raided the venue and began protesting loudly.

The extremists, who are believed to be members of Helen Ukpabio's Church, Liberty Foundation Gospel Ministries, were carrying a number of banners with slogans such as, “We give freedom to the witches” and “Stepping Stone is not a registered organisation”. Eventually, after an hour and a half, the police turned up and dispersed the mob. One person was arrested.
The conference co-ordinator Leo Igwe, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Humanist Movement, was viciously beaten during the attack and had his phone and camera stolen by the angry mob. Speaking after the event Leo said: “The conference was a peaceful meeting for people to openly debate what could be done to prevent the abuse of child rights linked to the belief in witchcraft. This attack by Helen Ukpabio's supporters once again highlights the depravity of this so-called “woman of God”. Such false prophets should be immediately arrested and prosecuted under the child rights Act”.

The issue of child witchcraft has attracted a great deal of media attention since the broadcast of the documentary, Saving Africa's Witch Children'. The documentary, which won the prestigious BAFTA and Amnesty Film awards highlights the role that Helen Ukpabio has played in spreading the belief in child 'witches' in South-Eastern Nigeria. 

Teachings such as the one offered by Helen Ukpabio in her book, Unveiling the Mysteries of Witchcraft, which states that: “a child under two years of age that cries at night and deteriorates in health is an agent of Satan”, have caused wide spread international outrage and condemnation of her practices.

Gary Foxcroft, said: “ The prevalence of the belief in child witchcraft in South-eastern Nigeria can be linked to the books, movies and teachings of Helen Ukpabio. She has made a great deal of money by promoting this superstitious belief and seems willing to do anything to protect her interests. We call upon the Nigerian Federal government and the Inspector General of Police to act urgently to prevent Helen causing any further embarrassment to Nigeria's reputation.”

The Northern Regional Police Commander, ACP Anwubutoge Awuni, has expressed grave concern about the rate at which children are being trafficked in and around Salaga and Makango in the East Gonja District, and has thus challenged the chiefs and people in the area to look out for persons aiding and abetting in the trafficking. 

Even though several advocacies and attempts have been made by the East Gonja District Assembly, and other human rights activists, to reverse the situation, it keeps increasing day after day, as some irresponsible parents still deem it profitable to sell their children out to aliens. 

The majority of these children, mostly girls, according to reports, are sent to the neighbouring countries and the big cities in Ghana, where they are forced into child prostitution, petty trading and other menial jobs. 

They are not only denied formal education and access to their basic or fundamental human rights, but are also denied their little entitlements by their masters. 

However, the Northern Regional Police Commander is of the view that concerted efforts from the security agencies, traditional authorities, district assemblies and the public, would be the surest way to arrest the child trafficking menace in the area. 

He also called for public sensitization fora to disabuse the minds of those irresponsible parents who engage their children in the activity. 

“Our children also deserve better education and better standards of living to become responsible adults in future,” he said. 

ACP Awuni expressed the concern when he paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of the Kpembe Traditional Area, Kpembewura Kibasibi I, at Salaga, as part of his familiarisation tour of police offices in the Northern Region. 

He also visited the Nanumba North and South districts. 

He commended the district assemblies for housing the police in modern facilities in the areas. 

He however asked the people to go beyond that, by partnering with the police to nip the incidence of child trafficking, which was on the increase in the Makango areas. 

ACP Awuni later interacted with the district chief executives of East Gonja and Nanumba North on how to effectively collaborate to combat crime and maintain peace and security in the areas. 

He also addressed police personnel at Salaga, Chamba and Bimbilla, and applauded them for accepting to work in those deprived areas. 

He advised them to be professional in the discharge of their duties, and eschew all forms of acts that could tarnish the image of the service. 

The Regional Commander later inspected on-going projects at Chamba and Bimbilla. 

He appealed to the Nanumba North Assembly to expedite action on the accommodation project for police in the District. 

The ongoing facility is meant to house policemen who would be used as a Rapid Response Force to bring security threats in the region under control.

The NSPCC has seen calls about serious child abuse to its helpline rise by more than a third since the death of Baby Peter, the charity has said.

It believes Peter's death two years ago in north London has made people more willing to report concerns about abuse.

The helpline passed on more than 11,000 suspected abuse cases to police and social services in the year to March.

Meanwhile, the union Unison says that social workers' morale has hit rock bottom in the wake of the baby's death.

Between April 2008 and March 2009, the NSPCC Helpline passed on 11,243 suspected child protection cases to police or social services.

'Vilification'
In the year before Baby Peter's death, it made 8,170 referrals, while the following year the figure rose to 9,620, the charity said.

And the number of child abuse calls continues to grow.

In June the helpline referred more than 1,000 calls to agencies - more than one an hour.

Baby Peter has connected so powerfully with the British public, it's made that significant amount of difference to people's motivation to act 

Wes Cuell, NSPCC

Peter died on 3 August 2007 at the age of 17 months after a period of sustained violent abuse, despite being on Haringey Council's child protection register.

Wes Cuell, from the NSPCC, said it was "very good news" people were acting on their concerns because as a society we are naturally reticent to "poke out noses" into other people's business.

He told the BBC: "I think Baby Peter has connected so powerfully with the British public, it's made that significant amount of difference to people's motivation to act."

And he added that while extra referrals would unavoidably add to the pressure and workload for social workers, it should not put people off from making "that phone call".

Social worker and child protection consultant Joanna Nicolas told the BBC the profession is struggling to cope, with vacancy rates running at about 12%.

Workers struggling
She said: "Social workers are spending too much time sitting at their desks, they're not getting out there with families. This isn't a new problem, but we should be out there with families."

The "constant vilification" by the press was not helping recruitment, she added.

Many of the calls to the helpline were about children being physically assaulted, sexually abused or badly neglected, the charity said. Most came from neighbours, relatives and friends of the family.

As the workload for social workers continues to grow, Unison, which represents 40,000 social workers, has warned they are struggling with extra paperwork from an increase in court referrals.

It said social workers were spending 80% of their time on paperwork and computer filing, and only 20% with their clients.

Dave Prentis, the union's general secretary, warned that social work vacancies were at "danger level", running at an average of 12% across the UK.

He said: "We need to see long-term solutions, not quick fixes such as recruiting social workers from abroad or trying to tempt retired social workers back into the profession."

Peter's 27-year-old mother was given an indefinite sentence with a minimum term of five years at the Old Bailey in May after pleading guilty to causing or allowing her son's death.

Her boyfriend, aged 32, was given a 12-year sentence for his role in Peter's death.

New Delhi (PTI) The Government on Monday said it would examine a suggestion to issue certificates to manufacturing units that do not use child labour.

"I will examine the suggestion," Labour Minister Mallikarujn Kharge said during Question Hour, when a member suggested issuing certificates to manufacturing units that do not use child labour.

He said according to 2001 census, the number of working children in the age-group of 5-14 years was 1.26 crore, of which about 12 lakh were working in hazardous processes.

Mr. Kharge said government was implementing the National Child Labour Project Scheme in 271 districts across the country for rehabilitation of children withdrawn from work.

Under the scheme, children withdrawn from work are admitted into special schools where they are provided accelerated bridge education, vocational training, stipend, nutrition and health care facilities, he said.

In reply to another question, Mr. Kharge said as per a survey women unemployment in the country on usual status basis estimated at 1.87 million in 1993-94 went up to 2.14 million in 1999-2000 and further increased to 3.97 million in 2004-05.
Replying to a separate question, he said as many as 6,51151 Epmployees' Provident Fund Scheme claims were pending for 2008-09 (till March 31, 2009)

More than 40 young people at a Baptist church in Northern Ireland will spend three hours a day in a ‘sweatshop’ to draw attention to the issue of child labour and raise money for charity.

The initiative, part of Greenisland Baptist Church’s annual ‘Real Week’ event, will involve the young people in making ethically sourced T-shirts which will be auctioned off on 8 August.  The proceeds will go to the charity Viva’s partner network in Cambodia which works with children who have experienced sexual abuse, trafficking, or forced labour.

Organiser Pete Kernoghan, a youth pastor and member of the band Blue Tree, is keen that young people are given the opportunity to learn about other youngsters around the world – and to get involved in making a difference.  He comments: “The vast majority of young people in the UK are looking for their voice to be heard and they want to be a part of something that they believe in - something that’s not just about them.

“If we can get young people to see outside themselves, to the reality of what is in this world, then they can’t help but be spurred into action.”

Pete Kernoghan and fellow band member Aaron Boyd set up the charity Stand-Out International (SOI) which aims to combat child sexual exploitation in Asia.  SOI works in partnership with Viva in Cambodia.

The event runs from 3 to 7 August.

I must say that children and women trafficking in Africa is very complex. This reality goes beyond the abuse of traditional deployments or labour migration. It represents a major paradox of our time especially for children; where our society agrees that children are the most valuable natural resource, yet they are being plundered through exploitative labour and trafficking; where adults agree that children should be given first priority but most economic and political decisions are made without childhood in mind; and where most families believe those children must be given the best start in life, but children are at a greater risk for poverty than any other societal group.
-Dr. Rima Salah

Isn’t it ironic that despite the existence of legislations such as the Children’s Act, 1998 and the Human Trafficking Act, 2005, and Ghana having ratified the ILO’s Convention 182, the convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, back in the year 2000, child labour (even in its worst forms) is still widespread in Ghana. Child labour still constitutes one of the major social problems facing the nation.

The Worst Forms of Child Labour as the name implies refers to those activities that expose children to serious hazards and affect their total development. These forms of labour include activities such as Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM), stone quarrying, fishing, commercial sexual exploitation, domestic and ritual servitude. 

Most research documents and observations perceived that some of the children engaged in the Worst Forms of Child Labour are as young as six years old. The problem is multifaceted. While some of these children are forced into these forms of work by people, others are compelled by circumstances such as poor parental care and inadequate extended family protection amongst other things. 

In famed gold mining areas such as Obuasi and Tarkwa, and in places as obscure as the villages surrounding the Bosomtwi, artisanal mining, mostly involving children, goes on.

In Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM), which can also be referred to as subsistence mining, children are exposed to so many hazards. ASM in itself is not illegal. However, there are those who have breached the laws and are operating without license, thus illegally, in the ASM sector (i.e. “galamseyers”). Notably, it is among the “galamseyers” that children are often engaged in mining operations. This is a point well noted by Gavin Hilson of the University of Reading, UK in a study bordering on the eradication of child labour in the ASM sector in the Upper East Region. 

Though often working with adults in the same fields, children are more vulnerable and at greater risk because of their immature bodies. There is constant exposure to toxic chemicals which are likely to have serious effects on their health. The prolonged exposure to the chemicals used increases the risk of them getting diseases like cancer. 

The tools used in mining which are usually designed for use by adults, and the crude methods often employed by the “galamseyers”, pose a great danger to the children. Activities such as heavy poterage and standing for long hours also tend to have adverse effects on the children. Mention can be made of osteo-muscular aches. 

Children in Artisanal and Small-scale mining just like their counterparts in “stone quarrying” are prone to suffering from lung and other respiratory infections due to the constant inhalation of dust and stone particles. This, in part, is due to the fact that rarely are they provided with the safety gears these kinds of activities require. Also, the unsanitary conditions, and even the lack of access to adequate healthcare in the event of contingencies all form part of the hazards children are exposed to. 

Poverty is often cited as the reason why they engage children in these activities. It is true that most of these forms of labour are symptomatic of the fundamental problem of poverty. The question however is that, is the excuse of poverty enough reason for children to be pushed into these activities? 

Also, for those children who engage in these forms of labour “willingly”, one wonders if nothing can’t be done by way of presenting them with more humane and reasonable alternatives other than literally watching them “throw” their lives away? 

Where are their parents and the family relations? Where are the Social Welfare Officers? Where are all the institutions tasked with seeing to the wellbeing of these children?

What has being the end of the legislations made to enhance the growth and development of the child?

There is the blatant flouting of many of the legislations and provisions meant to enhance the wellbeing of these children. One such provision is the one on the involvement of children in night work. Section 88 of the Children’s Act, the Prohibition of Child Labour at Night, states that no person shall engage a child in night work. Night work according to the Act comprises work between the hours of eight o'clock in the evening (8pm) and six o'clock in the morning (6am). 

As late as nine o’clock in the evening (9 pm) children can be seen engaging in labour activities that include hawking and serving as “mates” (conductors) for drivers. These bring to the fore common instances of laxity in the enforcement of the law. At some Police barriers, drivers with under aged boys serving as mates (conductors) freely drive through without being apprehended.

The truth remains that these children are often seen as economic reserves from which much can be gained by trickery or by force with, apparently, very little regard for their wellbeing. There may be social and economic benefits that may result from these activities, but no reason is good enough to justify the hazards these children are exposed to.

We should not lose sight of the physical, psychological and traumatic effects of these acts on the children. This often tends to promote acts of delinquency. Sometimes in seeking an escape from the toil and abuse some end up doing drugs, others resort to acts of thuggery and even robbery. Thus the initial problem of poverty is further aggravated.

In an interview with the West Africa Regional Coordinator of Free The Slaves (FTS), Mr Emmanuel Otoo, he intimated that it is important for the various organizations dealing with issues related to the welfare of the child to form strong social movements and networks to work towards the protection of the best interest of the child at all times. 

In highlighting other dimensions of the problem of “modern” slavery, touching on the issues of trafficking, forced adult labour and debt bondage, he stressed the need for further full scale studies into such cases to ascertain the nature, scope and dimensions, so that resources can be harnessed for its progressive and sustainable elimination. 

He stressed that law enforcement must be taken very serious and duty bearers at all levels must be well informed, trained and adequately resourced to deliver effectively to ensure the child is sufficiently protected.

He further stated that there is the need for NGOs working in this area to focus on effective participatory methods towards strengthening the capacity of communities to become resilient to child labour and trafficking. There is the need for communities to be empowered and trained so that on their own they will appreciate the dangers and the evils of slavery and child labour and say no to all forms of modern day slavery, no to trafficking and no to child labour in any form. 

A significant number of children are suffering from so many ills including deaths as a result of illegal and unacceptable activities such as fishing, illegal surface gold mining, domestic servitude, “stone quarrying”, and commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking, debt bondage and contemporary slavery. There is the need for them to be saved, and the time to act is now. 

http://news.myjoyonline.com/features/200907/33264.asp