13/01/2025
DAY 3: "STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING NOW" Campaign 2025
The place of every child - boy or girl - is the classroom/school and not work. The Children's Act, 1998 (Act 506) as amended in 2016 is clear that no child is permitted by law to be engaged in hazardous child labour. Work is hazardous when it deprives the child of education, health and affects negatively its moral development.
This is the position of the law. It is interesting to know that, the fact that the child has willingly agreed or accepted to do that work is not a legal justification to shied you from the crime of child labour. Why? A child is does not have the legal capacity to give CONSENT to be abused or EXPLOITED. In legal terms, a minor/child is a person below the age of 18 years and they can't give CONSENT.
This is every important to know because, in our Ghanaian and Africa context, we assume that once the child has not "complained" or "refused" to be subjected to such abuse or exploitation, it is fine. That is totally wrong and acceptable in the face of the law on child rights and child protection.
What must you do then? If you are adult and you see a child being abused or exploited in child labour or hazardous child labour, you have the DUTY to GATHER EVIDENCE and REPORT it at the nearest POLICE STATION or DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL WELFARE for immediate action to be taken remove and protect the child from the violations of his or her fundamental human rights.
Elimination of child labour and worst forms of child labour is our COLLECTIVE DUTY to SAFEGUARD the future of our children, the nation, continent and the world at large!
And the TIME to DO SO is NOW or NEVER!
YoRI - Shared Prosperity For All Citizens
Source: YORI -Youth Rise International
