Child labor on the rise [Archives:2005/903/Local News]
SANA'A, Dec. 14)Shawdab Establishment for Childhood and Development (SECD) expressed concern about the tragic situation of Yemeni children. In a workshop on Children held Monday in Sana'a, the SECD said there are approximately 35.108 street children between 5 and 18 years of age. This report, which was released by UN Human Rights Report 2005, indicates that 29 percent of those children are in Hodeidah Governorate, and 15.2 percent in Sana'a, 10.5 percent in Hadramout and 8 percent in Taiz. Other official reports also indicate that the number of working children in Yemen is 326.008.
Last year the Ministry of Social Affairs in Yemen conducted a field study on smuggled children. The study showed that the smuggling children indicator had risen by 100 percent for the age group (6-12), 85 percent of which are males and 15 percent females.
In another report by the Ministry of Social Affairs, it is indicated that female working children comprise 51.6 percent of the total working children. Moreover, according to a study carried out by the Swedish Organization for Child Labor in corporation with UNICEF, 52 percent of working children are abused, 32 percent are subjected to casual harassment, and 1.2 percent to sexual molestation.
A study by the Social Fund for Development states that the phenomenon of street children is due to the bad economic and social conditions of Yemen. The aftermath of the Gulf war and the failed economic reform programs also contributed to the increasing number of street children.
The SECD warned that child labor is increasing remarkably. Working children constitute 11-15 percent of the work force in Yemen.
Child labor is increasing remarkably and progresses counter to the estimations shown by statistics regarding working children at their early childhood. During the 1990s, statistics indicated the increasing number of working children is due to low education levels, and family disintegration. Official statistics on children crimes in Yemen over the last two years shows that 991 children engaged in different crimes throughout the country.
In a statement to the Yemen Times, Ms. Lamia' Al-Eryani, head of Shawdab Establishment, said “children programs will be included in the Establishment's plan for 2006. Child Protection Program of UNICEF will support children's plans. We seek to further promote children's participations in different fields. This initiative is considered the first of its type in Yemen. A press conference for children will also be held in the presence of officials to discuss their rights.”
Ms. Mariam Ibrahim, Executive Director of SOCD, made it clear that Children Program for 2006 in coordination with UNICEF will encourage children to make their future more prosperous by cultivating their minds. The Program would also let them know about their rights to express their views freely.
The United Nations has recently released a report on Human Development. The report points out that around 100 million children are living or working in streets. In developed countries, around 250 million children are working, 140 million of them are males and 110 millions females. Some 90 million children have not joined schools, and around 300000 children were forced to be soldiers during the 1990s. The report mentions that 6 million children were injured in armed clashes.
UNICEF points out that two million children worldwide are brought to and sold in prostitution markets.
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