Child labour refers to work done by a child which is harmful to its health and development. Worldwide, an estimated 250 million children do this kind of work. 

Child labour is found everywhere, but especially in developing countries where it is part of the cycle of poverty. Bonded labour, virtual slavery chained by constant family debt, is common in South Asia. Child servants are hidden and abused in the homes of the rich in Latin America. Millions of children work long hours on plantations in Africa or in factories throughout the world. 

Child labourers lose their health, sometimes their lives, and all the time, their precious childhood when they should be playing, making friends and learning. 

Child labour is illegal as per international treaties, which spell out agreed upon solutions. These are Article 32 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) stating that anyone under 18 "has the right to be protected from work that threatens his or her health, education or development". 

The Convention also states that every child has a right to an education and calls on all governments to make primary education compulsory and freely available to all. 

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 182 on the forms of child labour 1999, ratified by 136 countries, prohibits the most extreme forms of child labour that involves children being enslaved, held in bondage, used as prostitutes, in pornography or to commit crimes, or in other work that is likely to harm their health, safety or morals. 

And lastly, the International Labour Organisation's Convention 138 on the minimum age at work (1973), ratified by 123 countries, sets age limits for different types of work. 

By ratifying these treaties, governments have agreed to provide the financial resources and develop National Action Plans to bring their legislation in line with the legally binding obligations of the conventions. 

Despite all these good words and intentions, 250 million children still go to work each day, and not to school. Governments will only eradicate child labour when they hear loudly, clearly and persistently from their citizens. 

KENNEDY A. MULELA, 
Emuhaya. 

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