CHILD LABOUR INTERTWINED WITH CHILDREN LIVING ON STREETS IN JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN. Child labour in Juba as the capital city of South Sudan, its a BIG challenge, which calls for concerted efforts by relevant stakeholders including both national and state Ministries of Gender, Child & Social Welfare of Central Equatoria State, and Interior and Wildlife of South Sudan. In addition to the child labour problem which is closely linked to children living on streets (usually called street children by academicians, there is unplanned rural-urban migration and some returnees from outside South Sudan, who never went back to resettle in their original rural areas. An effective law enforcement policy that controls the age for riding motorcycles can help in reducing the problem. However, the biggest concern for this children is survival (food, water and clothing, and may be shelter). The most annoying type of exploitation of children is their use as conductors of commuter taxis. These children stand from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 or 8:00 p.m. in the taxis because passengers DO NOT allow conductors in Juba to sit unlike in Kampala where they (conductors) squeeze themselves in the 1st row seats behind the driver. I acknowledge this is a huge challenge which calls for a multi-sectoral approach and multiple stakeholders’ involvement in a concerted way to handle the challenge at hand (child labour intertwined with children living on streets either on part-time or full time basis leading to CHILD-DEPRIVATION TRAP). Even if we start talking to these children involved in child labour without involving their parents, little shall be achieved. Their parents should have sustainable livelihoods and sources of incomes in order to effectively support the children in terms of basic needs, health and education. Law enforcers need to effectively play their roles too. Parents should not think that government can do everything for them.
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 10:47:50 +0000
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