Arab world hit by increase in child labour

Despite the lack of official records on child labour and street kids in the region, these issues have topped the agenda of many Arab organisations. There are an estimated 12 million child labourers in the Arab world.

Dr Abla Ibrahim, Plenipotentiary and Director of the Family and Childhood Department of the Arab League, said: "While many international organisations like the United Nations have the problem of AIDS as their No 1 priority and largest problem, we in the Arab world face the problems of street children and child labour."

"Unfortunately there are no official records and it is very difficult to give an accurate figure of the number of child labourers since many establishments which employ children manage to hide the fact that they are breaking the law. Worsening the problem is the fact that these children live in the streets and are also regarded as street children."

She explained that the UN is pressing the League to label AIDS as the number one problem in the Arab world.

"We do have a problem of AIDS like the rest of the world but it has not spread to the rate found in countries like Africa and Asia. So it is a problem, but it comes after child labour and street children.

"Children in the Arab world do not have any support while women have managed to get the backing of many organisations. The Arab child is an orphan and has no one to appeal to," she said.

The Arab League is also preparing a study on the psychological problems of children living under occupation.

"Since the war in Iraq erupted and the ongoing problem in Palestine an increasing number of children are living under occupation. This has very adverse effects on many children in the world," she added.

Dr Abla was speaking alongside an event held in the capital to mark Arab Child's Day under the slogan 'Peace First, Peace Always', which aims to address the needs of children in the Arab world.

Jamal Al Bah, Chairperson of the Arab Family Organisation, said: "The festival is also a great opportunity for us to meet experts and specialists in the field. Earlier, our main concern revolved around economic development but now the world is more concerned about family issues.

"Next year, the Arab meeting to assess the 10-year performance of Arab countries on the issue of families will be held. This meeting has encouraged us to be more vigilant and dedicated in our activities. For example, more family programmes and ministries are now keen on chalking out laws that protect the family structure and so on."

He said the next stage will be to implement the laws and strategies which the Arab world will lay down to help protect children, mothers and families.