Humanity has long suffered from the concept of capitalism, which has been tied to the interests of a select few at the expense of society as a whole. All societies have paid a heavy price for the dominance of capitalist ideology, which continues to control global trends, sacrificing public and private interests, comfort, happiness, and security under the control of a limited number of families who rule the world based on their economic vision. This cost has not been borne solely by adults; global childhood has faced systematic injustice accompanied by a peculiar silence from human rights advocates.
Global Reports Warn of Child Labor
In a report by UNICEF dated June 10, 2021—during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic—a document titled "Child Labor Rises to 160 Million for the First Time in Two Decades" reveals troubling statistics. The report begins: “The number of children in child labor has risen to 160 million—a 8.4 million increase in the last four years—with millions more at risk of being pushed into child labor due to the effects of COVID-19,” according to a new report by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and UNICEF. (1)
The report, titled Child Labor: Global Estimates 2020, Trends and the Road Forward, released on the eve of World Day Against Child Labor (June 12), warns that progress toward ending child labor has stalled for the first time in 20 years. This is a reversal of the previous trend, which saw a reduction of 94 million children in labor between 2000 and 2016. The report highlights a sharp increase in child labor among those aged 5–11, who now constitute more than half of the global total. The number of children in this age group engaged in hazardous work—which poses risks to their health, safety, or morals—has risen by 6.5 million since 2016, reaching 79 million.
Guy Ryder (2), ILO Director-General, emphasizes, “The new estimates are a wake-up call. We cannot stand by while a new generation of children is put at risk. Comprehensive social protection enables families to keep their children in school even during economic difficulties. Increased investment in rural development and decent work in agriculture are crucial. We are at a pivotal moment, and much depends on how we respond. Now is the time to renew commitment and energy to overcome the crisis and break the cycle of poverty and child labor.”
"Let Him Work... Let Him Pass"
Adam Smith, the father of capitalism and author of the foundational book The Wealth of Nations (1776), which continues to influence economic principles worldwide, famously said, "Let him work... Let him pass." He advocated leaving economic matters to the forces of supply and demand. However, in practice, Smith's capitalist philosophy turned humans into commodities, valued solely for their contributions to increasing capital and the compensation they receive in return. Capitalists seek to minimize expenses and maximize profits, often by employing the cheapest labor and extending working hours, placing greater burdens on workers.
Capitalism, fueled by secularism and globalization, has managed to influence legislation-setting organizations and media institutions. This manipulation has reshaped perceptions of child labor and rendered international human rights laws mere hollow propaganda for the capitalist world. We now witness mercenary armies, many comprising child soldiers, and multinational corporations profiting enormously from child labor. The global acceptance of capitalist gains has allowed the principle of "Let him work... Let him pass" to benefit a select group of the wealthy.
Who Enforces the Implementation of Child Rights Agreements?
From the above, it is evident that the issue is not merely the existence of international (token) laws regarding the rights of impoverished children. Numerous international organizations, such as UNICEF, the International Movement for the Defense of Children “Save the Children”, the International Bureau for Children's Rights (IBCR), ECPAT International, and PLAN International, possess extensive legislative powers concerning children’s rights. However, an important question arises: Who ensures that states adhering to international child protection treaties actually implement them in a world rife with wars where children are the primary victims?
For instance, in the recent Al-Aqsa Flood conflict, the number of child martyrs exceeded 15,000, excluding those still buried under rubble. Similar devastating numbers can be imagined for children in Syria and Yemen as a result of war. What value do international laws hold if they are not enforced, serving only as masks or superficial embellishments for a rampant capitalist ideology that has exacerbated the misery of the poor and vulnerable?
For example, the United Nations General Assembly, in most of its resolutions on human rights in Syria, has condemned systematic violations by the Syrian regime against children. These include arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, child recruitment, and chemical attacks on schools. The resolution issued on May 15, 2013, specifically states in paragraph 4 that violations of international human rights law, including those related to women, girls, and children, must end immediately. (3)
Such resolutions and others demonstrate that international laws alone are insufficient in the face of a dominant ideology that continues to manipulate the future of humanity—not just children. The world needs revolutionary thinking to fundamentally shift its priorities toward human interests rather than material gains. This transformation can only occur when the Islamic world recognizes the magnitude of its mission and moves to fulfill it—namely, the message of Islam.
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(1) Personally, I believe that these numbers are far lower than the reality, as most third-world countries conceal the actual figures from international organizations. Another report by the International Labor Organization mentioned that the current number has doubled, and that 80% of these children do not receive wages; instead, their families collect them. The children work in exchange for food, drink, and minimal personal needs. Many employers prefer child labor because their families accept very little in return for tasks that may endanger the children's health or lives, such as drug trafficking or jobs requiring special strength that involve human violence.
(2) Director-General of the International Labor Organization.
(3) UN General Assembly Resolution (262/67).
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