Children at risk, save future generation [Archives:2005/859/Culture]
Hassan Al-Zaidi
Despite the Yemeni government's ratification of the Child Law in 2002 as well as the optional protocols regarding children's participation in armed conflicts, child trafficking and abuse for sexual and porno purposes, annexed to the Child Rights Agreement, yet many alarming phenomena have been surfaced in our society threatening the well-being of children such as child smuggling and the increase in street children. Notwithstanding the Children Parliament and other child-oriented official and public activities, many children join the labor market. They are exploited by employers in Yemen. It is really alarming. Perhaps laws and legislatures are not as important for fighting this phenomenon as spreading awareness on children rights and the effects of such phenomena on Yemen's children.
The Yemeni law defines a child as “anybody who has not exceeded 18 years old and did not reach puberty before that.”
Yemeni children and labor market:
It is estimated that the rate of children joining public education is low especially in primary and secondary schools. Studies show that some 42% of age category 6-15 do not join education because the possibility of their joining the labor market may increase in recent years. The 2003 Central Organization for Control and Auditing's Report quoted official sources as saying that number of children working in Yemen reaches 326,608 males and females. The real figure may be higher as there is a lack in statistics.
The study released by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor in October 2002 shows that children are taking up various types of labor, easy, difficult and risky. Children represent 9.1% of the total workforce. The percentage of male child laborers was estimated at 48.6% compared to 51.4% females. Although, child labor is on the rise and is far above the estimations of surveys and studies, there are certain factors that force children to work such as the death of the supporter or the need for helping one's family. There are social and domestic causes such as family disintegration.
Parent's view regarding children is still deficient. They still consider that free time spoils children. Most parents do not possess a culture that fosters children's' rights and take into account the risks that might face them. They believe in the old saying “Let child search for his bread.”
I found the child in the picture sweating as he was carrying a 25-kgm sack filled with soil every two minutes. His supervisor was a relative of his who said, “Let him toil. Even younger boys are useful.”
Child smuggling:
As we are not satisfied with employing our children in streets, farms and markets. They also suffer from being smuggled into the Saudi Arabia to work and beg which has become a prevalent phenomenon. Statistics reveal that 85% of the smuggled children are between 6-12 years, 15% of them are girls. Nevertheless, we have never heard that any smugglers or traffickers have been tried in public although media has spoken much about this particular phenomenon.
Children involved in major crimes:
Because of the low cultural level of the Yemeni society concerning the education of children and boosting the good qualities in their character, children are liable to fall prey to gangs and deviated individuals. They become instruments in the hands of criminals to perform their immoral and illegal acts. Figures shock us with the fact that 688 juveniles were arrested last year for being involved in major crimes and 522 were involved in miusediated individuals. They become instruments in the hands of criminals to perform their immoral and illegal acts. Figures shock us with the fact that 688 juveniles were arrested last year for being involved in major crimes and 522 were involved in mihe whole society teaching them about the rights of children. If the situation remains as it is, we should expect a Yemen's generation made up of laborers and deviants.
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[archive-e:859-v:13-y:2005-d:2005-07-14-p:culture]
