Child labour and cultural diversity

Abstract

Child labour is a relatively new recognised problem in the international discourse of human rights. Lately, it has been a major reason for concern of governments and human rights organisations all over the world, due to the worrying data collected in different parts of the world regarding the number of working children and the severe conditions in which some of them are living. The reasons for child labour are rooted in all spheres- the political, the social, the economic, the legal and the cultural. When dealing with child labour, special attention should be paid to the differences in cultural perceptions of childhood in general and child labour in particular. Defining human rights and children's rights is a continuing process, which must involve all societies, and not be limited to Western views. In order to successfully eliminate the problem of child labour, other measures, such as global campaigns and education, must be added to the legal instruments, which are not sufficient in bringing social change.