A statement was released by the Izmir Bar Association Presidency on the occasion of June 12, Day Against Child Labor. The statement highlighted the International Labor Organization’s efforts to draw attention to the unfair and harsh conditions faced by working children worldwide and to mobilize states and social workers to prevent child labor. June 12 was chosen as the Day Against Child Labor to raise awareness.
The statement emphasized that in Turkey, hundreds of thousands of children are employed in various sectors, including agriculture, industry, service, media, and mining, in violation of labor laws. These children face rights violations such as living in risky environments, violence and abuse, long working hours, low wages, and exposure to occupational hazards. The Child Occupational Homicides Report revealed that 61 children died in work-related incidents in 2022, and at least 616 children lost their lives in the last ten years.
The Izmir Bar Association mentioned that research conducted by the Turkish Statistical Institute showed that there were 720,000 children forced to work in Turkey in 2019, although the number has decreased over the years. However, it is believed that the actual numbers are higher and more severe than the data suggest. The research was not conducted during months of intense seasonal labor, and there is a risk that the current numbers will increase further. The earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş resulted in 658,000 workers losing their livelihoods, which is predicted to lead to an increase in child labor, poverty, and informal work.
The statement highlighted the deepening poverty in Turkey and linked it to the issue of child labor. It emphasized the need for social policies that provide social protection for children in need and their caregivers, impact assessments from a child rights perspective, and economic policies that address economic violence and abuse, particularly child labor. The statement called for urgent action plans to prevent child labor and protect children’s rights.
The Izmir Bar Association expressed its commitment to creating a world where children are not forced to work and called on relevant parties to implement urgent action plans to prevent child labor, which poses serious dangers to children’s health, education, and development.
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