Child labour is a widespread problem that violates children's rights, and it's important to understand its impact. Child labour refers to employing children in work that deprives them of their childhood, disrupts their education, and poses physical, mental, social, and moral dangers.
The European Union Delegation to Sierra Leone and EU Member States in Freetown (Team Europe), in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone, proudly launched the EU-Sierra Leone Bus Tour 2024. Commencing on Europe Day, May 9th, 2024, this two-week journey showcased the tangible impacts of EU-funded projects across Sierra Leone. The launch event at the National Authorising Office in Freetown was graced by the Hon.
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On March 6, 2024, the Initiatives for Media Development (IMdev), in collaboration with the Access to Information Commission and National SDGs Officers, hosted a pivotal meeting in Freetown. The focus was the upcoming UNESCO International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) project titled "Increased Media Capacity to Monitor and Report on the Provisions of the Right to Access Information." This initiative aligns with Sierra Leone's Right to Access Information Law of 2013, aiming to enhance transparency and accountability through improved media reporting.
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By Yeama Sarah Thompson
By Yeama Thompson (First published on the Sierra Leone News Agency 7th April 2021)
By Yeama Sarah Thompson (Her/She/Me)
Street trading, a common business activity in towns and cities across the nation, involves selling goods on the streets. While this is mainly done by adults, some parents and guardians involve children in such activities, which is considered child abuse under the Child Right Act.
A distressing incident of child abuse unfolded before the eyes of witnesses, leaving many in tears and questioning the rights every child should enjoy as stipulated in the Child Rights Act of 2007 and the African Charter on the Rights of the Child.
In Doya village, Port Loko district, Sierra Leone, water scarcity is a critical issue affecting the development of children, especially in education. Every morning and evening, children rush to nearby streams to fetch water, which is often untreated and poses health risks. This routine leaves many of them arriving at school very late, impacting their academic performance.
Drug abuse and addiction have emerged as significant issues affecting the youth of Sierra Leone. With advanced means of trafficking and easy access to drugs and substances, children between the ages of 8 to 17 years are increasingly becoming victims of drug addiction and trafficking. Despite efforts by the government, through the ministries of trade and industry, health, and the standard bureau, laws discouraging the sale of drugs to children and mitigating child drug consumption have faced challenges in implementation.
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Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), known as "Bondo" in Sierra Leone, is a harmful practice involving the removal of female genitalia for non-medical reasons. This deeply rooted tradition has significant negative consequences for girls, particularly when it comes to their education.
Date: July 19, 2023
In a groundbreaking achievement, eleven-year-old striker Rachael Alieu has become the youngest player ever to grace the top-flight football leagues in Sierra Leone, setting records in both the male and female categories.
In Sierra Leone, early marriage is a big problem for young girls. Even though there are campaigns against it, many communities still practice it with the approval of parents. A sad example is the story of Mohamed Tucker, a 37-year-old driver, who married a 16-year-old girl against her wishes.
Julie (Not her real name), a hardworking 14-year-old girl from Bo Southern Sierra Leone, faces many challenges in pursuit of her dreams and education. Despite being in class four, she sells garri (a popular food item) in the surrounding communities around Bo every day until sunset to support her aunt's household. She lives with her aunt, and while her cousins focus on their studies, Julie takes care of the house chores and works tirelessly to make money to support the family.
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In Kebbie town, there's a couple named Mohamed and Fatu. They've been married for eight years but didn't have a child yet. They love farming and grow lots of vegetables like potato leaves, crackbrain, and onion leaves. Their vegetable business is doing well, and people from nearby communities come to buy from them.
Fatima dreamed of breaking the cycle of poverty through education. Her determination to pursue her dreams clashed with her mother's insistence on early marriage. Despite the challenges, Fatima remained steadfast in her quest for education.
In a small village in the Bo district, six brave girls named Musu, Mariana, Josephine, Martha, Jeneba, and Mamie walk long distances every day to get an education. Their village doesn't have a secondary school for girls, so they walk to a town called Jimmy, where they can attend the only senior secondary school in their chiefdom. It's more than three miles away, and the journey is tough. They have to face the hot sun, the rain, and sometimes even dangerous bike riders who take advantage of them.
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Breastfeeding is when a newborn baby is fed with their mother's breast milk until they reach six months or beyond. However, recent surveys show that many young mothers breastfeed their babies for less than six months, depriving the infants of the essential nourishment breast milk provides.
Child labor is a severe problem worldwide, with around 218 million children aged 5 to 17 working, and a staggering 70 percent of them considered victims of child labor.
Child maltreatment is a distressing issue affecting children under 18 years of age. It includes physical and emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, negligence, and exploitation, causing harm to a child's health, development, and dignity in relationships of trust or power.