June 12 was observed as the International Day against Child Labor in different countries around the world. The day was basically launched by International Labor Organization (ILO) in 2002 in order to focus considerations on the important issue of child labor all over the world and highlight actions and determinations to eradicate this threat. On 12th June every year, NGOs, civil society organizations and media raise voices to highlight the troubles of the child labors and inspire governments and international organizations to carry out measures to control them.
As per the information from ILO there are around 168 million children who remain trapped in child labor, many of them work full-time. Today, throughout the world, around 215 million children work, many full-time. They do not go to school and have little or no time to play. Many do not receive proper nutrition or care. The environment they work in is mostly inappropriate and, therefore, they are susceptible to maltreatment, delinquencies, violence, drug addiction and trafficking, and sexual exploitation. There are many among them who do not get even proper nutrition and medication. In brief, they do not avail any sort of opportunity to live like children and have suitable sustenance that can assist them in becoming energetic and optimistic members of the society.
This year the theme of the day was ‘in conflicts and disasters, protect children from child labor’. The theme was selected because globally over 1.5 billion people live in countries that are affected by conflict, violence and fragility. At the same time, around 200 million people are affected by disasters every year. A third of them are children. A significant proportion of the 168 million children engaged in child labor live in areas affected by conflict and disaster. Keeping this information in mind, it is important to tackle the issue of child labor in such areas on top priority basis.
One of the basic reasons of the child labor is, undoubtedly, the growing poverty. The countries that suffer from poverty and instability have the highest ratio of child labor. Afghanistan is also among the same countries. According to a rough calculation around 8 million children in Afghanistan are caught into child labor.
Child labors are exposed to crimes and maltreatment to a risky extent, especially the ones who are employed by shop-owners, mechanics and small firms. They are even put to violent treatment by their employers on pity matters. Further, another concerning factor regarding the plight of the children in Afghanistan is the growing number of child beggars.
Families, stricken with intense poverty, do not hesitate even to send their children for begging. Apart from that, there are professional beggars who utilize the helpless children for the begging purposes. The children are even abducted for the same purpose. The phenomenon of violence against children is multifaceted. It involves recruitment of children by armed forces and armed groups.
The involvement of armed forces in this regard is really embarrassing. The recruitment that is carried out by militant groups is mostly for the purpose of carrying out suicide attacks through them, who because of their immaturity or because of the intense pressure do not understand the incentive of their actions.
There have been many incidents of suicide attacks in different parts of the country, wherein the attacker were below 16 years of age. Apart from that the children are also welcomed by the militant groups with the intention to have a cadre that they can train in accordance to their own will, within their training camps.
It is important that the menace of child labor should be tackled before it is too late. However, the situation does not seem to be getting well as the insecurity and poverty seem to be strengthening their roots in the country and the government is not doing enough to curb the situation. There are clear indications and many concerned authorities also believe that child labors is on the rise, and the government has not been able to do anything tangible in this regard. Moreover, insecurity has discouraged investments to a large extent; on the other hand, there is change in the wages of the people, therefore, they are not able to fulfill the overgrowing necessities of life and become compelled to send their children to work as well.  
The proper nourishment of the children, their character development and their education are the most important considerations to contemplate on, if the government is really serious to safeguard the rights of the children. The same children are going to be the builders of future; their proper care should be ascertained through every possible means. Apart from the government the members of the society can also play a tremendous role in diminishing discrimination against the children, saving them from child labor, uplifting their morale and supporting them in becoming responsible members of the society.