KSC leads the dialogue on child labor at the first academic conference on child protection [EN/AR/KU] – Iraq

Child protection in focus: KSC highlights the challenges of child labor at a groundbreaking conference.

October 8, 2024

Kurdistan Save the Children (KSC), together with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, the High Council for Child Protection, UNICEF and Save the Children International, played a leading role in organizing the first academic conference on child protection.

Under the theme “Child Protection is Our Duty,” the event gathered key stakeholders including Ministers of the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Deputy Minister of Labor of the Federal Government of Iraq, the Governor of Erbil, and representatives from various universities in the Kurdistan Region.

This groundbreaking event provided an important platform to address the critical challenges to children’s rights in the Kurdistan Region. KSC had the privilege of presenting its research and contributing to collaborative efforts aimed at strengthening child protection mechanisms and ensuring a better future for children.

KSC contribution: Combating child labor

A key highlight of the KSC’s participation and contribution was the presentation of its research “Cultural and Social Factors of Child Labor”, which addresses the root causes of child labor in the region. The study identified key cultural and social drivers and provided both insights and guidance.

Key findings include:

• A detailed analysis of local factors that contribute to child labor, such as cultural norms and socioeconomic constraints.

• Actionable recommendations for the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, calling for stricter measures to combat child labor and to improve protection measures.

This research represents a significant step forward in the ongoing fight to eliminate child labor, with the aim of ensuring that every child in the region grows up in a safe and caring environment.

Conference discussions: Protecting the rights of all children

The conference presented over 30 research studies on child protection, covering pressing issues such as child rights policy, mental health, psychosocial support and the current legal framework. On the second day, discussions expanded to include often overlooked but crucial topics, such as:

• Children with disabilities – emphasizing the need to improve access to services and support for this vulnerable group.

• Violence and cyberbullying – exploring strategies to protect children from harm in physical and digital spaces.

KSC recognizes the importance of these discussions and is fully committed to the rights and protection of all children, regardless of their background or circumstances. Every child deserves to be cared for and protected and given the opportunity to thrive.

A call to action

KSC remains steadfast in its mission to protect children in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. The outcomes of this conference, including our research on child labor, will be crucial in shaping future policies and improving child protection frameworks.

Child labor, one of the most worrying social problems of our time, has far-reaching social, psychological and physical consequences for the children affected.

Nask Ismail, head of KSC’s child protection program, emphasized: “Our research aims to uncover the cultural and social factors that drive child labor and develop targeted strategies to reduce it.” The results make it clear that poor economic conditions, exploitation and “Weak enforcement of anti-child labor regulations are among the root causes of this problem.”

Based on qualitative research through focus group discussions (FGDs) with experts and people directly involved in solving the problem, the study also found that parents’ lack of awareness of the harmful effects of child labor is a key cultural and social factor contributing to contributes to the problem.

-ENDS-

About KSC

KSC is a non-profit, non-political and non-denominational organization that provides assistance to children regardless of race, gender, political or religious affiliation. It operates four main programs: child protection, education, health and youth skills development, and emergency disaster relief.

KSC’s main objective is to work directly or indirectly to ensure a better future for children by improving and meeting their various medical, social, economic and educational needs.

KSC was co-founded in 1991 by Hero Ibrahim Ahmad and Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmad, now the First Lady of Iraq.

More information

Contact: [email protected]