UNICEF
BCGMUN24
AGENDA:INTERNATIONAL
COOPERATION TO COMBAT CHILD
LABOUR AND EXPLOITATION
What is UNICEF?
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), originally known as the United Nations
International Children's Emergency Fund, was created by the United Nations General Assembly
on 11 December 1946, to provide emergency food and healthcare to children and mothers in
countries that had been devastated by World War II. In 1950, UNICEF's mandate was
extended to address the long-term needs of children and women in developing countries
everywhere. In 1953 it became a permanent part of the United Nations System, and the words
"international" and "emergency" were dropped from the organization's name, though it retained
the original acronym, "UNICEF".
UNICEF works in the world’s toughest places to reach the most disadvantaged children and
adolescents – and to protect the rights of every child, everywhere. Across more than 190
countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive and fulfill their
potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
The world’s largest provider of vaccines, we support child health and nutrition, safe water and
sanitation, quality education and skill building, HIV prevention and treatment for mothers and
babies, and the protection of children and adolescents from violence and exploitation.
Before, during and after humanitarian emergencies, UNICEF is on the ground, bringing
lifesaving help and hope to children and families. Non-political and impartial, we are never
neutral when it comes to defending children’s rights and safeguarding their lives and futures.
UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of
children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their
full potential.
UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish
children's rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards
[Link] insists that the survival, protection and development of children are universal
development imperatives that are integral to human [Link] mobilizes political will
and material resources to help countries, particularly developing countries, ensure a "first call for
children" and to build their capacity to form appropriate policies and deliver services for children
and their families.
UNICEF is committed to ensuring special protection for the most disadvantaged children –
victims of war, disasters, extreme poverty, all forms of violence and exploitation, and those with
[Link] responds in emergencies to protect the rights of children. In coordination
with United Nations partners and humanitarian agencies, UNICEF makes its unique facilities for
rapid response available to its partners to relieve the suffering of children and those who provide
their [Link] is non-partisan and its cooperation is free of discrimination. In everything it
does, the most disadvantaged children and the countries in greatest need have [Link]
aims, through its country programmes, to promote the equal rights of women and girls and to
support their full participation in the political, social and economic development of their
[Link] works with all its partners towards the attainment of the sustainable
human development goals adopted by the world community and the realization of the vision of
peace and social progress enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.
Children experience insidious forms of violence, exploitation and abuse. It happens in every
country, and in the places children should be most protected – their homes, schools and
communities. Violence against children can be physical, emotional or sexual. And in many
cases, children suffer at the hands of the people they trust.
Children in humanitarian settings are especially vulnerable. During armed conflict, natural
disasters and other emergencies, children may be forced to flee their homes, some torn from
their families and exposed to exploitation and abuse along the way. They risk injury and death.
They may be recruited by armed groups. Especially for girls and women, the threat of gender-
based violence soars.
Harmful cultural practices pose another grave risk in various parts of the world. Hundreds of
millions of girls have been subjected to child marriage and female genital mutilation – even
though both are internationally recognized human rights violations.
No matter the circumstance, every child has the right to be protected from violence. Child
protection systems connect children to vital social services and fair justice systems – starting at
birth. They provide care to the most vulnerable, including children uprooted by conflict or
disaster; victims of child labour or trafficking; and those who live with disabilities or in alternative
care. Protecting children means protecting their physical and psychosocial needs to safeguard
their futures.
UNICEF works in more than 150 countries to protect children from violence, exploitation and
abuse. We partner with governments, businesses, civil society organizations and communities
to prevent all forms of violence against children and to support survivors. Our efforts strengthen
child protection systems to help children access vital social services, from birth through
adolescence.
During a humanitarian crisis, we provide leadership and coordination for all actors involved in
the response. Our programming focuses on protecting children from explosive weapons and
remnants of war; reunifying separated children with their families; releasing and reintegrating
children associated with armed groups; preventing and addressing gender-based violence; and
safeguarding children from sexual exploitation and abuse. We also work with United Nations
partners to monitor and report grave violations of children’s rights in armed conflict.
Alongside communities, we accelerate the elimination of harmful practices, such as child
marriage and female genital mutilation.
We also support governments with policy, legislation and regulatory frameworks that give more
children access to social services and justice.
In 1989, world leaders made a historic commitment to the world’s children by adopting the
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child – an international agreement on
childhood.
It’s become the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history and has helped transform
children’s lives around the world.
But still not every child gets to enjoy a full childhood. Still, too many childhoods are cut short.
It is up to our generation to demand that leaders from government, business and communities
fulfil their commitments and take action for child rights now, once and for all. They must commit
to making sure every child, has every right.
What is the Convention and what needs to happen?
What is the Convention on the Rights of the Child?
In 1989 something incredible happened. Against the backdrop of a changing world order world
leaders came together and made a historic commitment to the world’s children. They made a
promise to every child to protect and fulfil their rights, by adopting an international legal
framework – the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Contained in this treaty is a profound idea: that children are not just objects who belong to their
parents and for whom decisions are made, or adults in training. Rather, they are human beings
and individuals with their own rights. The Convention says childhood is separate from
adulthood, and lasts until 18; it is a special, protected time, in which children must be allowed to
grow, learn, play, develop and flourish with dignity. The Convention went on to become the most
widely ratified human rights treaty in history and has helped transform children’s lives.
What has the Convention achieved?
The Convention is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history. It has inspired
governments to change laws and policies and make investments so that more children finally
get the health care and nutrition they need to survive and develop, and there are stronger
safeguards in place to protect children from violence and exploitation. It has also enabled more
children to have their voices heard and participate in their societies.
Childhood today: new threats, new opportunities
Despite this progress, the Convention is still not fully implemented or widely known and
understood. Millions of children continue to suffer violations of their rights when they are denied
adequate health care, nutrition, education and protection from violence. Childhoods continue to
be cut short when children are forced to leave school, do hazardous work, get married, fight in
wars or are locked up in adult prisons.
And global changes, like the rise of digital technology, environmental change, prolonged conflict
and mass migration are completely changing childhood. Today’s children face new threats to
their rights, but they also have new opportunities to realize their rights.
What needs to happen
The hope, vision and commitment of world leaders in 1989 led to the Convention. It is up to
today’s generation to demand that world leaders from government, business and communities
end child rights violations now, once and for all. They must commit to action to make sure every
child, has every right.
About the agenda
“INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION TO
COMBAT CHILD LABOUR AND
EXPLOITATION”
What is child labour?
Child labour refers to work that children are too young to perform or that – by its nature or
circumstances – can be hazardous. Unlike activities that help children develop (such as
contributing to light housework or taking on a job during school holidays), child labour causes
harm to a child’s health, safety or moral development.
In its most insidious forms, child labour can amount to slavery or practices similar to slavery,
including the sale and trafficking of children. In some places, children may be forcibly recruited
into armed conflict, used in the production and trafficking of drugs, or offered into prostitution.
What kind of work is considered hazardous?
Hazardous work refers to work that, by its nature or circumstances, is likely to harm children’s
health, safety or moral development.
This includes anything that exposes children to physical, emotional or sexual abuse.
It’s work that occurs underground, underwater, at treacherous heights or in confined spaces –
often with dangerous machinery, equipment and tools. It’s work in an unhealthy environment,
where children may be exposed to hazardous substances or processes, or to extreme
temperatures or noise levels. And it’s work under particularly difficult conditions, like labouring
long hours or overnight.
How common is child labour?
Child labour remains a persistent problem in the world today. The latest global estimates
indicate that some 160 million children were engaged in child labour at the beginning of 2020 –
accounting for nearly 1 in 10 children globally.
Nearly half of all children engaged in child labour – 79 million – are in hazardous work that
directly endangers their health and safety.
Child labour is most prevalent in low-income countries, yet more than half of all child labour
occurs in middle-income countries.
Globally, child labour is also more common in rural areas, with most child labour taking place in
the agriculture sector.
Where is child labour on the rise?
Global progress against child labour has recently stagnated: The proportion of children in child
labour remained roughly unchanged since data were collected in 2016. Similarly, the
percentage of children in hazardous work has also persisted.
But global estimates mask large variations across regions. In both Asia and the Pacific, and
Latin America and the Caribbean, child labour has trended downward in percentage and
absolute terms. Similar progress in sub-Saharan Africa has proven elusive: This region has
seen an increase in the number and the share of children engaged in child labour. Now, nearly
87 million children in sub-Saharan Africa are in some form of child labour – more than the rest of
the world combined.
Are boys and girls subjected to different kinds of child labour?
Globally, involvement in child labour is more common for boys than girls at all age groups. Boys
are more prone than girls to work in construction, mining and manufacturing, while girls in child
labour tend to be in services, including domestic work.
Roughly 63 million girls and 97 million boys worldwide are estimated to be in child labour,
according to the latest data from early 2020. The gender gap grows with age, and boys are
about twice as likely as girls to be in child labour by their mid-teens (15 to 17 years old).
But these comparisons come with a caveat: The definition of child labour does not include
household chores in children’s own homes, where girls shoulder a disproportionate burden of
this work across most societies. When child labour is expanded to include household chores for
21 hours or more each week, the gender gap shrinks by almost half.
What forms of child labour are most common?
Most child labour – for boys and girls alike – continues to occur in agriculture. Some 70% of the
children engaged in child labour worldwide are working on farms or in other agricultural
activities. Many of them are young children.
Another common trend is the share of child labour occurring within families. Around 72% of child
labour takes place within the family unit, primarily on family farms or in small family enterprises.
Despite common perceptions of families offering a safer work environment, family-based child
labour is frequently hazardous – likely to harm a child’s health, safety or moral development.
What are the greatest risks associated with child labour?
No matter where or how it occurs, child labour restricts children from their most fundamental
rights. Many children driven into labour are cut off from schooling and health care – often at the
time they need it most.
In farming, children are regularly exposed to dangerous chemicals and machinery, and forced to
undergo strenuous tasks for long periods of time in extreme temperatures.
In mining, they may be forced to work in deep underground shafts, to haul heavy loads of rock
and to use toxic chemicals to separate minerals or precious metals from ore.
In fisheries, children can face prolonged periods at sea, under the threat of inclement weather
while away from their families.
On the streets, traffic and exhaust fumes threaten children’s health and safety – as does, in
extreme cases, the risk of being drawn into illicit activities.
These are just a few of the dangers children driven into work may face. What’s more, the
isolated nature of some forms of child labour puts them at significant risk of abuse and
trafficking.
Why does child labour occur?
Children may be driven into work for various reasons. Most often, child labour occurs when
families face financial challenges or uncertainty – whether due to poverty, sudden illness of a
caregiver, or job loss of a primary wage earner.
Migrant and refugee children – many of whom have been uprooted by conflict, disaster or
poverty – also risk being forced into work and even trafficked, especially if they are migrating
alone or taking irregular routes with their families.
Is the world on track to eliminate child labour?
The world is not yet on track to eliminate this child rights violation. Without accelerated action, a
projected 125 million children will be in child labour in 2030, our collective deadline to achieve
the Sustainable Development Goals.
What is UNICEF doing to stop child labour?
UNICEF works to prevent and respond to child labour, especially by strengthening the social
service workforce. Social service workers play a key role in recognizing, preventing and
managing risks that can lead to child labour. Our efforts develop and support the workforce to
respond to potential situations of child labour through case management and social protection
services, including early identification, registration and interim rehabilitation and referral
services.
We also focus on strengthening parenting and community education initiatives to address
harmful social norms that perpetuate child labour, while partnering with national and local
governments to prevent violence, exploitation and abuse.
With the International Labour Organization (ILO), we help to collect data that make child labour
visible to decision makers. These efforts complement our work to strengthen birth registration
systems, ensuring that all children possess birth certificates that prove they are under the legal
age to work.
Children removed from labour must also be safely returned to school or training. UNICEF
supports increased access to quality education and provides comprehensive social services to
keep children protected and with their families.
To address child trafficking, we work with United Nations partners and the European Union on
initiatives that reach 13 countries across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.
Roughly 160 million children were subjected to child labour at the beginning of 2020. This
accounts for nearly 1 in 10 children worldwide. Almost half of them are in hazardous work that
directly endangers their health and development.
Children may be driven into work for various reasons. Most often, child labour occurs when
families face financial challenges or uncertainty – whether due to poverty, sudden illness of a
caregiver, or job loss of a primary wage earner.
The consequences are staggering. Child labour can result in extreme bodily and mental harm,
and even death. It can lead to slavery and sexual or economic exploitation. And in nearly every
case, it cuts children off from schooling and health care, restricting their fundamental rights.
Migrant and refugee children – many of whom have been uprooted by conflict, disaster or
poverty – also risk being forced into work and even trafficked, especially if they are migrating
alone or taking irregular routes with their families.
Trafficked children are often subjected to violence, abuse and other human rights violations. For
girls, the threat of sexual exploitation looms large, while boys may be exploited by armed forces
or groups.
UNICEF has been at the forefront of global efforts to combat child labor and exploitation,
working through advocacy, direct support, and collaboration with governments and
organizations. A key aspect of its work is promoting the ratification and enforcement of
international labor standards, particularly the ILO Conventions No. 138 on Minimum Age and
No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour. These legal frameworks provide a foundation for
protecting children from economic exploitation and hazardous work. Furthermore, UNICEF
plays a central role in advocating for the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of
the Child, ensuring that children’s rights are prioritized in all forms of policy and legislation.
In addition to policy work, UNICEF implements country-specific programs aimed at addressing
the root causes of child labor, such as poverty and lack of access to education. Through
partnerships with governments and local organizations, UNICEF works to improve education
systems, ensuring that vulnerable children have access to quality schooling and vocational
training as alternatives to exploitative labor. These programs are tailored to local needs, helping
children stay in school and supporting families through social services.
On a global scale, UNICEF has been instrumental in campaigns like the Global Partnership to
End Violence Against Children and Alliance 8.7, both of which focus on eliminating child labor
and ensuring children are protected from all forms of exploitation. UNICEF’s collaboration with
these initiatives underscores its commitment to international cooperation in achieving the
Sustainable Development Goal of ending child labor by 2025.
To inform and guide global efforts, UNICEF regularly publishes research and reports on the
status of child labor, such as the Global Child Labour Reports. These data-driven insights
provide a foundation for policymakers and advocates, shedding light on the ongoing challenges
in the fight against child exploitation. In crisis situations, such as conflicts or natural disasters,
UNICEF provides emergency protection to children who are particularly vulnerable to trafficking
and forced labor, ensuring that even in the most difficult circumstances, children are
safeguarded.
Through its comprehensive approach, UNICEF demonstrates a deep commitment to eradicating
child labor and exploitation, blending advocacy, direct action, and international collaboration to
secure a better future for children worldwide.
Countries worldwide have taken significant steps to address child labor and exploitation through
legislative reforms, social programs, and international agreements. Many have ratified key
international conventions, such as ILO Convention No. 138 on minimum age and Convention
No. 182 on the worst forms of child labor, incorporating these into national laws. For instance,
India enacted the Right to Education Act (2009), ensuring free and compulsory education for
children aged 6 to 14, a critical move in keeping children out of the labor market. Similarly,
Brazil’s Bolsa Família program provides cash transfers to low-income families, incentivizing
school attendance and access to healthcare, thereby reducing the economic pressures that
contribute to child labor .
In Ghana, the government established a Child Labour Monitoring System to protect children,
particularly in the cocoa industry, and track their reintegration into education. Bangladesh, after
international scrutiny of child labor in its garment industry, collaborated with UNICEF and the
ILO to remove child laborers from factories and enroll them in schools . Similarly, Mexico raised
the minimum working age and implemented stricter labor inspections to enforce compliance with
child labor laws .
Some countries have developed comprehensive national action plans, such as Cambodia,
which aims to eliminate child labor in sectors like agriculture and construction, and Nepal,
whose National Master Plan targets industries such as brick-making and carpet weaving.
Meanwhile, Uganda and Tanzania have partnered with NGOs and launched community-based
programs, providing financial support and education to help families avoid relying on child
labor .
These actions illustrate the global commitment to eradicating child labor through a combination
of legal frameworks, education initiatives, and social protection programs. However, sustained
international cooperation and local enforcement are still needed to address the root causes of
child labor and protect vulnerable children worldwide.
Countries worldwide have taken significant steps to combat child labor through a combination of
national legislation, international agreements, and social programs. A key international
framework is the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Conventions No. 138 (Minimum Age
Convention) and No. 182 (Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention), both widely ratified to set
global standards. Many countries, including India, have integrated these conventions into
domestic law, such as the Right to Education Act (2009), mandating free and compulsory
education for children aged 6 to 14. Similarly, Brazil’s Bolsa Família program links financial aid
to school attendance, reducing economic pressures that lead to child labor.
In addition to national laws, international resolutions have played a crucial role. The UN
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 8.7) commit all member states to end child labor by
2025, focusing on the elimination of forced labor and human trafficking. The Hague Global Child
Labour Conference in 2010 also marked a significant step, leading to the adoption of the
Roadmap for Achieving the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour by 2016. Countries
like Bangladesh have reformed their garment industries after international pressure, partnering
with UNICEF and the ILO to remove children from factories and reintegrate them into schools.
Moreover, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire implemented the Harkin-Engel Protocol, a voluntary
agreement with the chocolate industry to reduce child labor in cocoa production. In Mexico,
labor laws were reformed to raise the minimum working age and improve enforcement
mechanisms, and Cambodia’s National Action Plan targets hazardous labor sectors such as
agriculture and construction.
While these efforts demonstrate global progress, ongoing cooperation and enforcement are vital
to eradicate child labor and uphold children's rights. Sustained global efforts, robust policies,
and support for vulnerable families are essential to ensure every child’s right to education and
protection.
Key Terms
● Exploitation: Unfair treatment of individuals for personal or economic gain.
● Trafficking: The illegal transportation of people, typically for exploitation.
● Hazardous: Work that poses a risk to health or safety.
● Slavery: The condition of being owned and forced to work without freedom or
compensation.
● Forced Labor: Work performed involuntarily under threat or coercion.
● ILO: International Labour Organization, which sets global labor standards.
● Childhood: The period of a person’s life from birth to adolescence.
● Convention: An international agreement or treaty.
● Rights: Legal or moral entitlements.
● CRC: Convention on the Rights of the Child, protecting children's rights.
● ILO 138: Convention establishing a minimum age for employment.
● ILO 182: Convention focusing on the elimination of the worst forms of child labor.
● SDG: Sustainable Development Goals, global objectives for improving well-being.
● Poverty: The state of having insufficient resources or income.
● Bonded Labor: A form of slavery where people work to pay off debts.
● Domestic Work: Work performed within a household, often by children in exploitative
conditions.
● Vulnerability: The state of being exposed to harm or exploitation.
● Globalization: The integration of economies, often impacting labor markets.
● Supply Chain: The process of producing and distributing goods, where child labor may
occur.
● Education: The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, key to preventing
child labor.
● Discrimination: Unfair treatment of individuals based on characteristics like race or
gender.
● Advocacy: Public support for a cause or policy.
● Legislation: Laws enacted by a government.
● Accountability: Responsibility for actions or policies, especially regarding human rights.
● Enforcement: The act of compelling compliance with laws or standards.
● Informal Economy: Economic activities that are not regulated by the government.
● Prevention: Actions taken to stop something from happening.
● Mitigation: Efforts to reduce the severity or seriousness of a problem.
● Protection: Safeguarding individuals from harm.
● Migration: Movement from one place to another, often linked to labor exploitation.
Topics for Moderated Caucus
● Should countries impose sanctions on nations that fail to eliminate child labor?
● Is poverty the primary cause of child labor, or are cultural factors more influential?
● Should companies be legally required to ensure child-labor-free supply chains?
● Does banning child labor outright harm families in extreme poverty?
● Should child labor laws be more strictly enforced in developing countries?
● Are multinational corporations doing enough to combat child labor?
● Is education the most effective solution to ending child labor globally?
● Should the use of child labor in global supply chains be considered a human rights
violation?
● Can consumer boycotts of products made with child labor effectively reduce its
prevalence?
● Should international organizations, like the UN, have more power to intervene in
countries where child labor is rampant?
● Is it ethical for children to work in family businesses if it interferes with their education?
● Does tourism contribute to the exploitation of children in developing countries?
● Can a universal minimum working age effectively prevent child exploitation across
different cultures?
● Are governments doing enough to address the worst forms of child labor in crisis
situations?
● Should countries prioritize eliminating child labor over economic development?
● Is rehabilitation and reintegration of former child laborers adequately supported by
governments and NGOs?
● Should there be harsher penalties for businesses that exploit child labor in conflict
zones?
● Does the informal economy perpetuate child labor, and should it be more regulated?
● Is corporate social responsibility sufficient to combat child labor, or is more government
intervention needed?
● Are international conventions like ILO 138 and 182 effective in reducing child labor, or do
they need reform?
Informative Links
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