Approaches to Children's Work and Rights in Nepal

Abstract

Current economic and political trends present particular challenges for countries dealing with the development of industry without the social infrastructure needed to uphold citizens' rights. As free trade demands competitiveness in global markets, so the demand for cheap labor rises. This has specific implications for children. This article argues that despite new legislation to fulfil the requirements of international mandates (such as the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child and International Labor Organization Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labor), rights-based programming does not sufficiently incorporate the perspectives of poor children and their family members. This article draws on recent ethnographic research that pioneered a collaborative model in which government, voluntary, private, and trade union organizations conducted research to compare the impact of current approaches to child labor on the livelihoods of working children. It shows that in failing to incorporate sociocultural understanding in program planning, services fail to maximize their potential in offering children opportunities to end the cycle of poverty.

Friendship in practice: Girls’ work in the Indian Himalayas

“…Children and youth aged 8 to 18, especially girls in their teens, played a major role in assisting older kin with agricultural and household chores (cf. Baker and Hinton 2001; Mishra 2000; Weiner 1991). In the agricultural sphere, children and youth were especially responsible for herding cattle, collecting leaf litter from the forest, gathering fodder for livestock, and harvesting lichen—a relatively new, cash‐generating forest activity (see Dyson 2006, 2008).…”

Combating rural poverty through altruism: a model for sustainable education

“…Nepal is one of the poorest nations with soaring illiteracy rates and the second highest level of child labour (Chakrabarty et al, 2011;Dana, 2014). As a result of poverty, polygamy, and gender discrimination (Baker and Hinton, 2001), Nepalese children are forced into the labour market, prematurely. Over 2 million Nepalese children under the age of 14 are actively engaged in the workforce (Chakrabarty et al, 2011).…”

“…The highest levels of poverty and, by extension, illiteracy rates, are within the rural areas, which are scattered through the hills and valleys of the Himalayan Range. In these areas, Nepalese children are often required to assist in expanding the household income by abandoning their education and entering the workforce (Baker and Hinton, 2001). However, the child labour wages are minimal to non-existent and insufficient to remove a family from poverty (Gilligan, 2003).…”

Combating rural poverty through altruism: a model for sustainable education

“…Through their exposure to child labour, these children, namely from rural areas, experience inhumane working conditions and many are trafficked into the sex trade. In fact, nearly 12,000 Nepalese children enter this horrendous industry each year (Baker and Hinton, 2001;Gilligan, 2003).…”