By. Our reporter
As Uganda joins the rest of the world to mark the day against child labour, the Minister of State for Gender and Culture Affairs, Hon. Mutuuzo Peace notes that child labour denies children their right to childhood, good education and growing up in a safe and protected environment free from harm.
She adds that children
are often seen carrying heavy merchandise across the borderline, many times
sent by adults in return of miniature commissions, the act Hon. Mutuzo
describes as being illegal.
Child labour is also
categorized as a human rights issue affecting the entire world. Child labour
refers to work that has been prohibited for children either because of their
age or because of the nature of the tasks involved.
“Children shouldn’t
work in fields, but on dreams” Mutuuzo says.
She adds that there
couldn’t have been a better venue than Busia border town where the prevalence
of child labour is alarming because of the cross border trade that has
unfortunately not spared the children.
“Our choice of venue
is intended to raise the profile of our fight against the vice of child labour
in this area but also the country at large.” Mutuuzo says.
On this day, we also look forward towards the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development that in its Target 8.7 makes a call to the international community to put end to child labour in all its forms by 2025.
Its is estimated that two million children of the nine million aged five to seven engage in child labour in Uganda.
The Day, observed
every June 12, is aimed at raising awareness and activism to prevent child
labour.
The day was marked at Madibira Primary School playgrounds in Busia border town to commemorate the World Day Against Child Labour.
END.