Expert underscores urgency of child protection on World day against child labour, demands accountability and deep mindset change

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jun, 2026) Child rights expert Valerie Khan Yousufzai, while marking the World Day Against Child Labour, stressed the need for strict accountability, awareness and mindset change to address the growing issue of child exploitation, particularly highlighting the vulnerability of street children and the role of repeated family involvement in begging and other forms of exploitation.

Expert Valerie Khan Yousufzai, while speaking to ptv news, said that child labour is driven by multiple factors, including limited resources with large family members, poverty, lack of decent employment opportunities for adults and youth, weak social protection systems and limited access to free and quality education.

She further said that in societies with limited resources, the dignity of the child must remain a priority, adding that issues such as power dynamics, delayed justice and the need for strict accountability mechanisms must be addressed to effectively curb child exploitation, including forced begging.

Responding to queries, she explained that ending child labour requires a comprehensive approach focused on awareness, stronger institutions, protection of children’s rights, and ensuring timely justice so that vulnerable children, especially street children, are safeguarded from exploitation.

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She said that World Day Against Child Labour is being observed across the globe, including Pakistan on June 12 , to highlight the serious and still widespread problem of child exploitation in the workplace.

She noted that the 2026 theme calls for stronger and faster action under the message: “Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults.”

She further said that, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF, around 138 million children worldwide are still affected by child labour, while nearly 54 million are engaged in hazardous work.

She explained that although some forms of work may support a child’s development, they must not disrupt education and should provide safe and constructive learning experiences..

She further emphasized that poverty, weak enforcement of laws, and lack of awareness continue to be major factors behind the persistence of child labour.

She said that addressing these root causes is essential for any long-term and effective solution.