شاشة سيارة لاسلكية
وفر 25%! اشترِ شاشة سيارة لاسلكية بسعر 1099 د.ل فقط في ليبيا. متوفر حالياً، الدف
🛒 تسوق الآنArab and International Organizations Issue Urgent Warnings on Worsening Child Labor Crisis
Arab and International Organizations Issue Urgent Warnings on Worsening Child Labor Crisis
138 Million Children Still Trapped in Worldwide Labor, 54 Million in Hazardous Work
Four major Arab organizations issued a stark joint warning today, June 12 — World Day Against Child Labor — that the global goal of eradicating child labor by 2025 has failed. The General Secretariat of the Arab League, the Arab Labor Organization, the Arab Council for Childhood and Development, and the Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND) said approximately 138 million children worldwide remain engaged in labor, including 54 million in hazardous jobs that directly threaten their health and survival. The crisis is accelerating across the Arab region as conflicts, displacement, and deepening poverty push more children out of classrooms and into dangerous work.
Why Libya and the Arab Region Are Hitting a Breaking Point
The joint statement identified wars, socioeconomic crises, and mass displacement as the primary drivers pushing children into early labor across the Arab world. Libya remains one of the most affected countries, where years of conflict have shattered public services, displaced thousands of families, and left entire communities without access to decent employment. Children in affected areas are increasingly forced to work in informal sectors — including street vending, manual labor, and agriculture — often under exploitative and unsafe conditions. The organizations stressed that declining opportunities for decent adult work compound the problem, as families rely on children's income to survive.
Key Demands from the Joint Statement
The four organizations outlined an urgent action plan to address the root causes of child labor:
- Expand social protection systems — Establish cash transfer programs and social safety nets for vulnerable families to reduce economic pressure on children
- Improve education access and quality — Remove barriers to school enrollment, including fees, distance, and lack of documentation for displaced children
- Enforce national labor legislation — Strengthen inspections, penalties for violations, and legal frameworks aligned with International Labor Organization conventions
- Invest in data and innovation — Build accurate national databases on child labor to guide policy and measure progress
- Strengthen regional partnerships — Accelerate joint Arab and international efforts through coordinated funding, technical assistance, and knowledge sharing
New Digital Threats Emerging for Children
The organizations raised an alarming new dimension: digital exploitation. They noted that rapid technological developments have created new forms of economic exploitation of children through online platforms and apps. Children are being drawn into unregulated digital work, content creation under coercion, and other invisible forms of labor that evade traditional labor inspections. The groups called for urgent policies and legislation to ensure a safe digital environment and protect children from all forms of online exploitation.
Gaza Children Face Catastrophic Conditions
The statement drew specific attention to the humanitarian catastrophe facing children in occupied Palestine, particularly in Gaza. Ongoing war, mass displacement, and the collapse of food, education, and healthcare systems have created what the organizations described as a severe and unprecedented crisis. Children in Gaza face extreme malnutrition, total loss of schooling, and exposure to violence. The four groups urged the international community to act immediately to protect these children and uphold their rights under international humanitarian law and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Why This Matters for Libya
Libya sits at the heart of this regional crisis. The country's prolonged instability has weakened child protection systems, disrupted education for hundreds of thousands, and left displaced families without adequate support. International organizations including UNICEF and the IOM have repeatedly flagged child labor as a growing concern in Libya, particularly among internally displaced communities and migrant families. Breaking this cycle requires both national policy reform and sustained international investment in Libya's social protection infrastructure.
A Call That Cannot Wait
"Ending child labor is essential to achieving social justice and sustainable development," the joint statement concluded. With the 2025 elimination target now out of reach and child numbers still rising, the organizations reaffirmed their commitment to working with every Arab country — including Libya — to ensure every child enjoys a safe childhood, quality education, and a dignified life. For millions of children across the region, this promise remains unfulfilled. The time for action is now.
— LibyaPress / Libya Desk
