EWAD joins the rest of the world to mark world day against child labor which happens every June 12. On this day, EWAD joins the International Labor Organization (ILO), and partners to call for increased investment in social protection systems and schemes to establish solid social protection floors and protect children from child labor. Locally national celebrations are taking place in Kabarole district where our executive director and staff are key participants in the successful commemoration of this day.
Social protection is both a human right and a potent policy tool to prevent families from resorting to child labor in times of crisis. In Uganda incidences of child labor increased during the COVID19 two years lockdown from 21%-36% according to the national household survey 2019/2020.
Even when the schools were reopened in 2022, one in 10 school children never returned to school according to UNICEF pointing to the fact that these children slipped back into child labor for survival.
According to EWAD executive director and Work no Childs Business project (WNCB) project coordinator Margaret Tuhumwire, in Busia district where EWAD is working to establish child-labor-free zones, child labor has drastically reduced especially in the mines but a lot has to be done to consolidate the achievements this far.
“It is my sincere hope that we all work together to achieve the Right to Education for all children sooner than later by Strengthening school structures and capacity of teachers, supporting social protection, and End Child labor” She adds.
This day brings together children, governments, employers and workers’ organizations, civil society, as well as millions of people from around the world to highlight the plight of child laborers and what can be done to help them.
Margaret explains that significant progress towards ending child labor requires increased investment in universal social protection systems, as part of an integrated and comprehensive approach to tackle the problem.
“Together with our partners under the Work No Childs Business project (WNCB), we will continue strengthening the current efforts to ensure child-labor-free zones” she adds.
We wish you meaningful commemorations of World Day against child labor 2022.
#EndChildlabour.
By Joshua Mutale.
