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Lesson plan; Understanding and Combating Child Labor

Ann S. Michaelsen

World Day Against Child Labour 12 June

Objective: By the end of this lesson, students will:

  1. Understand the significance of World Day Against Child Labour.
  2. Be aware of the current global state of child labor.
  3. Recognize the actions required to combat child labor.

Activities:

  • Introduction to Child Labor:
    • Define child labor and explore its various forms using specific examples.
    • Emphasize the importance of the World Day Against Child Labor.
    • Discuss global statistics related to child labor, considering regional variations.
  • Visual Presentation:
    • Show a short video or presentation that highlights the history and significance of World Day Against Child Labor.
    • Encourage class discussion based on the visual content. World Day Against Child Labor.

I was a child labourer, now I work to prevent it

Main Activity

  1. Group Research: Divide students into small groups and assign each group a specific region (Africa, Asia, Americas, Europe, Arab States). Have them research the prevalence of child labor in their designated region using the provided materials (see Key Information and Statistics).
  2. Look at the Cartoons made for this day and pick 2 or 3. Explain your choices and describe the cartons.
  3. Presentation: Each group presents its findings to the class, focusing on the number of children affected, the types of work they do, and the root causes of child labor in its region.
  4. Presentation: Have students create a presentation on the international conventions and actions to eradicate child labor, including the ILO Conventions No. 138 and 182. They should also discuss the role of organizations like UNICEF and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

Interactive Activity 

  1. Role-Playing: Assign students roles (e.g., government officials, NGO workers, community leaders) and have them discuss and propose solutions to end child labor in a simulated meeting.
  2. Action Plan: As a class, create a comprehensive action plan to combat child labor, incorporating ideas from the role-playing activity.

Conclusion 

  1. Summarize the key points discussed during the lesson.
  2. Encourage students to think about how they can raise awareness and contribute to the fight against child labor in their communities.

Essay questions

  • Explain the root causes of child labor in different world regions and discuss how cultural, economic, and social factors contribute to this issue. Provide specific examples from the research your group conducted.
  • Analyze the impact of child labor on individual children, their families, and their communities. Consider the physical, emotional, and educational consequences and the long-term effects on their future prospects.
  • Propose a comprehensive strategy to combat child labor globally. Your plan should address prevention, protection, and rehabilitation measures and involve various stakeholders such as governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector. Explain how your strategy would tackle the root causes of child labor and ensure sustainable change.

Key information and statistics

Sure, here are some essential information and statistics about child labor that you can include in your handouts:

  1. Definition: Child labor refers to the exploitation of children through any form of work that deprives them of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and is mentally, physically, socially, or morally harmful (UNICEF).
  2. Prevalence: Roughly 160 million children were subjected to child labor at the beginning of 2020, accounting for nearly 1 in 10 children worldwide. In the least developed countries, slightly more than one in four children (ages 5 to 17) are engaged in labor detrimental to their health and development.
  3. Hazardous Work: Almost half of the children involved in child labor are in hazardous work that directly endangers their health and development. This includes 79 million children who are performing hazardous work.
  4. Impact of COVID-19: The COVID-19 pandemic has put an additional 9 million children at risk of being forced into child labor.
  5. Regional Differences: In sub-Saharan Africa, slightly more than 1 in 4 children aged 5 to 17 years are engaged in child labor. In all regions, boys and girls are equally likely to be involved in child labor.
  6. Gender Disparities: Gender disparities are often observed in the types of activities carried out, with girls far more likely to be involved in unpaid household services.
  7. International Conventions: The issue of child labor is guided by three main international conventions: the ILO Convention No. 138 concerning minimum age for admission to employment and Recommendation No. 146 (1973); ILO Convention No. 182 concerning the prohibition and immediate action for the elimination of the worst forms of child labor and Recommendation No. 190 (1999); and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
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