This is the VOA SpecialEnglish Development Report.
The United Nations International Labor Organization has launcheda yearly event to help end child labor around the world. The first”World Day Against Child Labor” was held on June twelfth. There werespecial ceremonies, worker training programs, media events andpublic activities around the world.
The I-L-O organized the day to help spread the message that childlabor remains an international problem. Officials plan to hold theevent every year to increase support for an international campaignagainst child labor.
Almost two-hundred-fifty-million children between the ages offive and seventeen are forced to work. That represents one of everysix children around the world. Seventy-five percent of them aredoing dangerous jobs.
The I-L-O is working withgovernments to end the worst forms of child labor. These includeslavery, the illegal drug trade, the sex trade, armed conflicts andother dangerous jobs. These forms of child labor threaten children’sphysical and mental health. The I-L-O says the worst forms of childlabor are found everywhere in the world. Both boys and girls areequally at risk. Most child laborers are forced to work in farmingareas in parts of Asia and Africa. They spend many hours in extremeheat. They may be affected by dangerous chemicals used to killinsects. And they suffer high rates of injury.
There are many reasons for child labor. They include politicalconflict, poverty and economic problems. For example, officials saymany family businesses use children when they cannot pay adultworkers. Illegal child labor continues because of a lack of lawenforcement.
The I-L-O says that any effort to end child labor requires directaction at the local, national and international levels. Officialsbelieve it is possible to end the worst forms of child labor intwelve to fifteen years. However, before this can happen, countriesmust decide to act on this problem. The first step is forgovernments to accept special programs with time limits to reduceand finally end child labor.
The International Labor Organization has provided countries withtraining, legislation and ways to enforce laws banning child labor.Officials believe improvements are beginning in some countries.
This VOA Special English Development Report was written by JillMoss.