Lesson 4: Human Rights in Global, Regional and National Context

2. Child Labor Started During the Industrial Revolution

We must trace child labor back to:

• Industrial Revolution

During this period:

• Children worked in factories
• Worked in mines
• Worked long hours
• No protection
• Very low wages
• Dangerous conditions
• Why?
• No labor laws
• No human rights protection
• No international conventions

This is where the modern child labor problem started

3. International Legal Framework Against Child Labor international law tries to stop child labor through conventions:

• Main ones

CRC (Convention on Rights of the Child)

ILO Convention 138

ILO Convention 182

Important: These conventions say: Children must be protected from exploitation CRC (Convention on the Rights of the Child)

Child labor is more in Article 32 Key idea Children must be protected from economic exploitation No hazardous work No harmful employment ILO Convention 182 Already discussed:

The worst forms of child labor must be abolished Immediate elimination

4. Problem Identified in the Monograph The author says:

International law exists BUT Implementation is very poor

5. Why International Law is Weak The lecturer asked:

• Who is the policeman of international law?

Answer:

• No global police

So:

• Countries may ignore conventions No strong enforcement Compliance is voluntary 6. Reporting Procedure (Solution Suggested)

The monograph suggested:

There should be:

Reporting mechanism Monitoring system Complaint procedure Countries should:

report violations be monitored be pressured internationally

7. Child Labor Cannot Be Solved by Law Alone Very important lecture point Child labor is affected by:

Economic factors-poverty Unemployment Cheap labor demand Social factors Family pressure Lack of education Child support for family Cultural factors Child apprenticeship Traditional work Early responsibility So, laws alone can not eliminate child labor.

Key Summary from Lecture

Monograph = deep research on one topic Child labor began during the Industrial Revolution International conventions try to stop child labor Implementation is weak No global enforcement Reporting mechanism needed Social, economic, and cultural factors contribute Law alone can not solve child labor Although international conventions prohibit child labor, weak enforcement, poverty, and socio-cultural factors continue to sustain child labor, showing that legal regulation alone is insufficient.

Why child labor persists despite international law, focusing on China, multinational corporations, reporting mechanisms, and enforcement gaps.

1. “Persistence of China” (What the lecturer meant)

The lecturer is not talking about Chinese people — but China’s economic presence through corporations and supply chains.

Meaning:

Chinese companies operate worldwide Mining, construction, manufacturing Cheap production demand Weak labor protections in host countries This increases the risk of:

• child labour unsafe work exploitation 2. Demand for Cheap Labor (Key Factor)

The lecturer said:

China (and other multinational companies) demand:

cheap labour fast production low cost supply chain This creates pressure on:

local contractors small suppliers informal sectors They then use: child labor

3. Problem with International Law The lecturer highlighted:

International conventions exist BUT They are:

• signed domesticated written in law However: Not implemented So enforcement is weak.

4. Domestication Problem

On paper → laws exist In practice → not enforced This is the gap between international law and domestic law Example:

ILO conventions ratified Child labor still exists No inspections No prosecutions

5. Reporting Mechanism Question The lecturer asked:

• Who do we report to?

This refers to international reporting bodies Countries report to:

• International Labor Organization
• United Nations
• Committee on the Rights of the Child

African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

These bodies:

monitor compliance receive reports issue recommendations But: They can not enforce punishment

6. Why States Allow Violations The lecturer’s point:

Governments allow multinational corporations because:

foreign investment economic growth job creation taxes political pressure So governments relax labor enforcement Result: Child labor continues

1. Who do you report child labor to? (Domestic level)

The lecturer asked this question.

At the national level, complaints can be reported to:

Ministry of Labor Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs Police Social welfare officers Human rights commission Courts Example in Sierra Leone Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs Police Family Support Unit Labour inspectors But the problem:

People rarely report Institutions are weak Enforcement is poor

2. Problem with Enforcement The lecturer asked:

• After the court decision, what happens?
• Was the person reinstated?
• Was the recommendation enforced?

Meaning: Even when:

complaint is made court decides recommendation given No enforcement follows This makes laws ineffective

3. Key Lecture Point: Poverty and Child Labor The lecturer made a very important argument:

Poverty and child labor mirror each other Meaning:

poverty causes child labor child labor sustains poverty So, you can not eliminate child labor without reducing poverty

4. Why Laws Alone Cannot Solve Child Labor The lecturer emphasized:

Even if Parliament passes laws:

child labor continues exploitation continues Because:

• families need income children must work enforcement weak economy poor So legal solutions alone are not enough.

5.Political Will (Very Important Exam Point)

The lecturer said:

The most important factor is the government's willingness to enforce If government:

• funds inspectors punishes offenders monitors companies Child labor reduces.

If not: laws remain on paper END Of lecture Authority Errors are inevitable FACULTY OF LAW FOURAH BAY COLLEGE -USL DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS CONSTITUTIONALISM AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE.