Harvard Model

United Nations
2024

A Background Guide for

The International
Children’s Fund
Written by: Rachel Cevallos
 Table of Contents

A LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY-GENERAL 3

A LETTER FROM THE UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL 4

A LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR 5

HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE 6

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 7

SUBTOPIC A: CHILD LABOR 9

SUBTOPIC B: CHILD MARRIAGE 19

BLOC POSITIONS 24

QUESTIONS A RESOLUTION MUST ANSWER 25

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH 26

RELEVANT UN ACTION 27

PROPOSED SOLUTIONS 28

ENDNOTES 30
 HARVARD MODEL UNITED NATIONS 2024
A LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

Esteemed Delegates,

Welcome to the seventy-first session of Harvard Model United Nations. My

Angela Dela Cruz name is Angela Dela Cruz, and it is my distinct pleasure to be the secretary general
Secretary-General
of this year’s conference. Across the globe, instability, strife, and division are be-
Samuel J. Guerrero coming increasingly prevalent. It is under such difficult global circumstances that
Director-General
we must listen to one another, acknowledge and embrace our differences, and work
Nicholas X. Yang together to realize our goals and address difficult circumstances. In such circum-
Under-Secretary-General
Administration stances, the value of Model United Nations has never been clearer.

Chukwudi Ilozue We strive to encourage our delegates to aim for the highest standards. Under this
Under-Secretary-General
Business
framework, we have crafted this year’s conference theme: Amplifying unheard voic-
es. Our staff believes that we cannot be effective leaders without considering all
Ellen S. Hwang voices, even those traditionally excluded from high-level debate and dialogue. This
Comptroller
task is no doubt quite challenging, with even the most successful leaders having
Aspen L. Abner struggled to successfully achieve this goal. We encourage delegates, the leaders of
Under-Secretary-General
Operations the future, to rise to the challenge and craft innovative new solutions to this issue.
Abigail V. Mack Harvard Model United Nations is the oldest and largest Model United Nations
Under-Secretary-General
General Assembly conference. The size and international nature of the conference make it an oppor-
tunity for learning that extends beyond the confines of a committee session. By
Autumn H. Dorsey
Under-Secretary-General participating in this year’s conference, you become a part of an important tradition
Economic and Social Council of discourse. Our staff has worked tirelessly over the last year to prepare for Har-
Jeremy J. Rasmussen vard Model United Nations 2024, and we hope that you are as excited as we are to
Under-Secretary-General convene in Boston.
Regional Bodies
Let me be the first to welcome you to Harvard Model United Nations 2024. I
Calvin S. Osborne
Under-Secretary-General cannot wait to meet you all this January for what will certainly be a memorable
Specialized Agencies educational experience!

Sincerely,

Angela Dela Cruz

59 Shepard Street, Box 205
Cambridge, MA 02138 Angela Dela Cruz
Voice: 617-398-0772 Secretary-General
Fax: 617-496-4472
Email: info@[Link] Harvard Model United Nations 2024
[Link]
 HARVARD MODEL UNITED NATIONS 2024
A LETTER FROM THE UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL

Esteemed Delegates,

Hello! My name is Jeremy Rasmussen, director of the International Atomic Ener-

Angela Dela Cruz gy Agency, and it is my pleasure to welcome you to Harvard Model United Nations
Secretary-General
2024! I look forward to getting to know you and hearing a plethora of interesting
Samuel J. Guerrero and informative arguments as we debate one of the most pressing issues in the
Director-General
world today.
Nicholas X. Yang
Under-Secretary-General I am currently a senior at Harvard College studying chemistry and physics with
Administration
a secondary in government. I grew up in Vineland, New Jersey, and participated
Chukwudi Ilozue in Model Congress and Debate during my time in high school. What I like about
Under-Secretary-General
Business these programs is that they are a unique opportunity for informing ourselves and
truly hearing “both sides of the argument”: when discussing difficult topics with
Ellen S. Hwang
Comptroller your intellectual peers, the goal is to have an informative experience rather than a
combative one. That is the community I hope to foster. Outside of class, I perform
Aspen L. Abner
Under-Secretary-General stand-up comedy and serve as an author for Harvard’s Satire V magazine.
Operations
I look forward to building a community that cares deeply about what is being dis-
Abigail V. Mack cussed, and is inclusive of a variety of perspectives. With the specialized topics we
Under-Secretary-General
General Assembly discuss in regional bodies, it is imperative to consider all facets of the conversation:
scientific, economic, political, and social. I hope we can delve into the intersections
Autumn H. Dorsey
Under-Secretary-General of these spheres to build comprehensive solutions to some of the most pressing
Economic and Social Council issues of our generation, and I look forward to working with each of you as we
Jeremy J. Rasmussen attempt to address such mountainous topics. Though difficult, I am confident that
Under-Secretary-General we will reach some sort of resolution. Never hesitate to reach out to me with any
Regional Bodies
questions, and I look forward to meeting each of you!
Calvin S. Osborne
Under-Secretary-General
Specialized Agencies

Sincerely,

Jeremy Rasmussen
Jeremy Rasmussen
Under-Secretary-General of Regional
59 Shepard Street, Box 205 Bodies
Cambridge, MA 02138 Harvard Model United Nations 2024
Voice: 617-398-0772
Fax: 617-496-4472
Email: info@[Link]
[Link]
 HARVARD MODEL UNITED NATIONS 2024
A LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

Esteemed Delegates,
It is with immense pleasure that I welcome you to the United Nations Children’s
Fund, also known as UNICEF! My name is Rachel Cevallos and I am honored to be
Angela Dela Cruz
Secretary-General your Director for HMUN Boston 2024. I’m excited to hear the rigorous and engag-
ing debate that will be taking place in our committee, and hope that the coming
Samuel J. Guerrero
Director-General conference is full of growth and learning for each delegate no matter the level of
experience. I am excited to see what you all bring to the table in January!
Nicholas X. Yang
Under-Secretary-General I was born and raised in sunny Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I am currently a Soph-
Administration
omore at Harvard College studying Economics and Government. When I’m not
Chukwudi Ilozue on the hunt for the best chai latte in Boston, I can be found going on spontaneous
Under-Secretary-General
Business walks along the Charles or painting with friends.

Ellen S. Hwang At Harvard, I am involved in several organizations within the Harvard Interna-
Comptroller tional Relations Council, namely the Harvard International Review, HMUN Aus-
Aspen L. Abner tralia 2024, and the IRC Board of Directors. I have been involved in MUN since
Under-Secretary-General my freshman year of high school in various ways: competing as a delegate, hosting
Operations
conferences, and teaching workshops for a nonprofit. This coming January, I have
Abigail V. Mack the privilege of serving as your Director for UNICEF at HMUN Boston 2024!
Under-Secretary-General
General Assembly During the committee, I look forward to seeing collective and diplomatic efforts
Autumn H. Dorsey from delegates representing different countries experiencing a diverse range of cir-
Under-Secretary-General cumstances — it is imperative that resolutions are flexible, thorough, and cognizant
Economic and Social Council
of these diverse circumstances. As your committee chair, I aim to create a lively,
Jeremy J. Rasmussen collaborative, and most importantly, fun atmosphere. I hope that you will join me
Under-Secretary-General
Regional Bodies in making HMUN Boston 2024 a conference to remember.

Calvin S. Osborne I look forward to all of your creative ideas and thoughtful debate in committee.
Under-Secretary-General
In the meantime, please do not hesitate to shoot me an email, whether it be ques-
Specialized Agencies
tions pertaining to the background guide, inquiries about how the committee will
be run, or simply just saying hello!
Sincerely,

Rachel Cevallos
59 Shepard Street, Box 205 Rachel Cevallos
Cambridge, MA 02138 Chair of the United Nation’s Children
Voice: 617-398-0772
Fax: 617-496-4472 Fund
Email: info@[Link] rcevallos@[Link]
[Link] Harvard Model United Nations 2024
6 Background Guide: 8c55b711-cd7a-408b-aea3-64a53f3cb898

HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE dren are particularly susceptible to violence,

abuse or exploitation.
The United Nations Children’s Fund
During the 1950s, UNICEF petitioned the
(UNICEF) was originally created in 1946 in
UN to implement the Declaration of the Rights
response to the negative consequences that
of the Child which led to its unanimous adop-
World War II placed on the children of Europe.
tion in 1959. This success brought unprece-
The destruction caused by the war made many
dented international attention to the protection
children vulnerable to famine and disease and
of children’s rights. The document contained
the aim of the newly created committee was to
ten principles that advocated for the protec-
make food, clothing and health care available
tion of the basic rights of children including
to vulnerable children in order to improve their
the right to “protection, education, health care,
living conditions. It was not until 1953 that
shelter and good nutrition. Due to the commit-
UNICEF’s mandate as a committee was extend-
tee’s endeavors, UNICEF won the 1965 Nobel
ed indefinitely, thus making it a permanent part
Peace Prize for its “promotion of brotherhood
of the United Nations). In order for worldwide
among nations.” In 1982, UNICEF launched
society to progress, UNICEF believes that it is
the Child Survival and Developmental Rev-
essential that children be provided for and nur-
olution which was a campaign to reduce the
tured. Providing proper care at a young age sets
high rates of childhood death that were often
the framework for a bright future and allows
found in developing countries. The movement
every child to reach their fullest potential.
focused on simple, inexpensive strategies and
Although originally founded to address chil- was able to save the lives millions of children
dren’s health issues, UNICEF’s aims have great- each year.
ly expanded since its conception to address
Since 1989, UNICEF has been led by the
many other issues that have afflicted children
guidelines set during the Convention on the
worldwide. The committee’s goal today is to
Rights of the Child. As a result of the conven-
provide the resources that would help children
tion, worldwide standards and obligations re-
“overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence,
garding children were introduced that encom-
disease, and discrimination place in a child’s
passed civil, cultural, economics, political and
path.” Some of UNICEF’s main focus areas
social rights. Over 190 states have ratified the
include childhood and women’s education and
convention and are thus legally responsible by
nutrition, providing immunizations against
international law to uphold the rights outlined
preventable childhood diseases, combating the
in the document. UNICEF has also conducted
spread of HIV/AIDS among youth, and creat-
numerous studies (such as Adjustment with a
ing safe environments where young people are
Human Face) and sponsored assemblies and
protected and able to thrive. UNICEF is espe-
programs meant to shed light on the worldwide
cially active in areas of the world where chil-
state of children. Assemblies such as the 1990
 Harvard Model United Nations 2023 7

World Summit for Children encouraged mem- different factors which include the child’s age,
ber nations to do more to improve the current the type of work, how long the work day is, the
situation of the children in each individual conditions of the worksite and the motivations
nation. Other programs such as the 2001 Say of the employer. However, it is important to
Yes for Children Campaign and 2002 Special note that not all work that is performed by chil-
Session on Children emphasized direct citizen dren is absolutely negative. For example, house-
action to improving the situation of children hold chores or a side job that does not interfere
around the world and highlighted the impor- with a child’s education can be beneficial to a
tance of the youth voice and participation in child and does not require action. However,
enacting change. Today, UNICEF continued work that meets the criteria to be considered as
dedicated to improving the lives of children harmful child labor does require attention and
worldwide, especially in areas of climate justice immediate action by this committee.
and pollution, safe food accessibility, and im- Today, over 160 million children are victims
proving the lives of children with disabilities. of child labor. These children have had their
Though its headquarters are located in New childhoods taken away and have had work
York and Geneva, 85 percent of UNICEF forced upon them. In addition, more than half
employees are located on the ground in more of these children suffer the worst forms of child
than 190 countries. This allows the organiza- labor which include exposure to hazardous
tion to better implement the principles and environments, prostitution, drug trafficking,
goals outlined by the committee and makes it armed conflict, and slavery. One of the main
easier to protect and serve vulnerable children perpetrators of child labor is poverty. A child
worldwide. Because it is the only UN com- may be forced to work in order to support
mittee dedicated solely to the welfare of chil- its family thereby eliminating the possibility
dren, UNICEF has established the authority to of obtaining an education. Whether it be by
influence the policy of local nongovernmental obtaining a paid job or being forced to work as
organizations to the United Nations itself. an extra hand as free labor on his or her fam-
ily’s farm, many children are expected to give
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM up school in order to provide for others. Other
times, a child may be forced into labor because
According to the International Labour Or-
the family cannot afford to send the child to
ganization (ILO), child labor is defined as any
school. In many countries school is not free
“work that deprives children of their child-
and families often times do not have a large
hood, their potential and their dignity, and
enough income to send some or any of their
that is harmful to their physical and mental
children to school and instead, these children
development.” Whether a specific type of job is
are made to work. Additionally, those that live
considered child labor can depend on several
in rural and isolated locations do not all have
8 Background Guide: 8c55b711-cd7a-408b-aea3-64a53f3cb898

access to a school that is close enough which poverty.

again forces the children to forego schooling Underage marriage is an issue that requires
and instead work. immediate attention and action. Officially,
Child labor is detrimental in many ways, underage marriage (or child marriage) is cate-
both physically and mentally. Often times, gorized as a marriage between two individuals
child laborers are forced into dangerous work- where either one of both of the individuals
ing conditions which can be harmful to their involved is under the age of eighteen. However,
health. Whether it be unsafe, outdated ma- although the cutoff for child marriage is at the
chinery or exposure dangerous chemicals child age of eighteen, this type of ceremony may also
laborers are constantly in danger. Furthermore, involve children who are significantly younger.
because their bodies and muscles are not com- Although some young boys are affected by it,
pletely developed yet, children who perform underage marriage is an issue that relates pri-
manual labor at a young age are often times marily to young girls and thus will be the focus
susceptible to muscular and spinal deformities, that this committee primarily concentrates on.
weakness and pulmonary diseases such as tu- Young females are often married to significant-
berculosis. Additionally, because of their young ly older men without having a say in the mat-
ages, child laborers can also be vulnerable to ter. Stripped of their human rights, underage
exploitation by employers or other adults in the married girls often suffer from both immediate
workplace. and long-term detrimental effects resulting
Working at a young age can also lead to from their forced marriage. Married children
unnecessary stress being placed upon a child are often forced to forgo their childhood and
which can harm his or her mental health. Also, education, risk their health and give up oppor-
because most children who are forced into tunities that they may have been able to pursue
labor do not receive an education, their knowl- had they not been married. Child brides are
edge of certain subjects is often times not up also at an increased risk of abuse from both
to par with those that are able to be properly their husbands and their newly acquired ex-
educated. Additionally, child labor can be detri- tended families.
mental not only to the child but to others both As of today, about 650 million women were
directly and indirectly involved. While child married before they turned 18 - roughly 21%
labor is often times perpetuated by poverty, it of brides. Additionally, about 12 percent of
can lead to more poverty in future generations. these women reported that they were married
By working menial and often dangerous jobs before the age of fifteen. To put that into better
instead of receiving an education, it limits the perspective, that would mean that nearly 12
child’s chances of obtaining a higher paying million girls will be newly married each year.
and safer job in the future which could have Even though there has been some decline in
helped elevate the child and its family out of the amount of girls who are married before the
 Harvard Model United Nations 2023 9

age of fifteen, in the year 2020, 50 million girls SUBTOPIC A: CHILD LABOR
below that age were still at risk of being mar-
ried. Explaining the Problem
Although child marriage can be found in just According to the International Labour Orga-
about every area of the world, there are certain nization, it is estimated that about 160 million
regions that have significantly higher rates of children are involved in child labor worldwide.
underage marriage than others. South Asia Although child labor is prevalent in all areas of
represents 30% of child marriages performed the world, the majority of the cases are found
worldwide, and Sub-Saharan Africa represents in developing countries. One of the main
another 37%. However, in some individual causes of child labor is poverty. Families often
countries, the numbers can be much higher. depend on the extra income that a child can
For example, in Niger, about 75 percent of provide. Other times, a family cannot afford
women between the ages of 20 and 24 were to send their child to school which results in
married as children. Additionally, there is a the child being forced into labor. Sometimes
large occurrence of child marriages in Latin families use their own children as additional
America as well where almost a third of women sources of agricultural labor and find it to be
in their early twenties were married before the more important than education. Child labor
age of eighteen. Furthermore, girls who live can have many adverse effects on the children
in rural locations are two times more likely to that it employs in ways ranging from a decrease
become a child bride than those who live in in educational opportunities to physical harm
urban areas. inflicted by labor machines. Child labor can
also be driven by inadequate access to educa-
It is imperative that more is done to combat
tion, specifically if a school is too expensive
the worldwide prevalence of child marriage.
or far away. Although child labor is less prev-
Unnecessary amounts of powerless children are
alent in developed countries, these countries
having their childhoods and futures taken away
are still at fault for the widespread use of child
from them and not enough is being done to
labor throughout the world. Often times it is
stop it. Over the last decade, the worldwide rate
the consumers of the developed countries that
of child marriage has declined only minimally.
buy products that are made by child laborers
If the rate of child labor continues at the same
which fuels the need for such labor. Although
pace, by the year 2030, about 15.1 millions
most countries have laws restricting child labor,
new girls will become child brides each year.
these laws are often times not enforced or not
In order to defeat child marriage, it needs to be
followed by the citizens.
tackled at its root causes.
Article 32 of the Convention on the Rights of
the Child states that children should be “pro-
tected from economic exploitation and from
10 Background Guide: 8c55b711-cd7a-408b-aea3-64a53f3cb898

performing any work that is likely to be hazard- the slave trade, child slaves were not desired
ous or to interfere with the child’s education, or by the colonists. Because of their vulnerability
to be harmful to the child’s health or physical, to disease and lack of strength, planters and
mental, spiritual, moral or social development.” merchants saw them as a burden. However, by
Even though 193 countries have ratified the the mid 18th century, attitudes changed. The
convention, child labor is still widely prevalent abolitionist movement began to gain support
and more steps are needed in order to ensure and fearing the end of the slave trade, colonists
that children’s rights are truly being protected. began to desire child slaves who would live lon-
ger. Child slaves were forced to work with no
pay and were denied an education. The condi-
History of the Problem
tions of the child’s life often times depended on
The use of child labor has been prevalent the brutality of the master but child slaves were
throughout most of history and has invad- often faced with violence and brutality. Addi-
ed all corners of the world. From the earliest tionally, many times, children that were born
times, children have been captured, enslaved into slavery were forcefully separated from
and forced to work in decrepit conditions both their families and sold to work in other states
alongside their families and alone. Other times, and plantations. It is estimated that 30 percent
children have been forced to work in factories of the slaves that were traded interstate were
and agriculture in order to support or provide children and many others were sold within
free labor for their families. Because of their each state.
inability to defend themselves and trusting
Child slavery was not just limited to the
behavior, children have been easily exploited in
Americas; it could also be found in the Islamic
all sectors of the workforce throughout history.
World. One instance of child slave labor that
was found in the Islamic cultures is the Qiyan,
Slavery or singing slave girls, that were present in the
During the 16th through 18th centuries, about royal courts of the ‘Abbasid Caliphate from 750
20 million African slaves were brought to the until 1258. Because it is forbidden for Muslims
American colonies. Almost all of the slaves to enslave other Muslims these girls were often
faced terrible living and working conditions captured from faraway lands and brought back
and were treated as subhuman. Some esti- to the ‘Abbasid courts where they were held.
mate that nearly one quarter of those taken Although these girls were often extensively
to the Americas over this period were chil- educated by their captors in poetry, music
dren. Because of their size, children were easy and Arabic, they were required to sing for the
to capture by slave traders where they were nobles of the court and were often times sexu-
kept as slaves in their native lands or sold into ally exploited. They were also frequently hired
slavery in the Americas. In the beginning of out to customers and were expected to perform
 Harvard Model United Nations 2023 11

sexual acts. Hong Kong Government did not outlaw the

Mui Tsai system and it was instead regarded as
a personal family matter or tradition. However,
Asia
after a 1922 British press campaign that ex-
Even though slavery was officially abolished posed the evils of the Mui Tsai system, Winston
in China during the early 20th century under Churchill promised that the Mui Tsai system
British colonial rule, the practices of the Mui in Hong Kong would be abolished within one
Tsai system in Hong Kong, Singapore and year. As a result of pressure by the British, the
parts of South-East Asia remained well into the government of Hong Kong enacted the Female
century before it was exposed and outlawed. Domestic Service Bill which outlawed the Mui
Under this system, young girls were either Tsai system. However, the new law was nev-
bought or kidnapped from their families and er strictly enforced and the amount of girls
sold to rich families as domestic servants. Poor working as Mui Tsai servants actually increased
families who could not provide for their daugh- from 1922 to 1929.
ter or found a daughter to be undesirable relin-
In 1926, Britain was significantly involved
quished their rights to the child in exchange for
in the International Security Convention of
a small sum of money. After the girl was sold,
the League of Nations and the country came
they often never saw their natural family again
under heavy criticism when it was revealed that
and were given a new name and identity. The
one of their colonies still employed the use of
child was expected to work as a servant without
domestic slavery. At the same time, middle and
pay for the family in exchange for food shelter.
working class members of Hong Kong began
Most Mui Tsai were also not allowed to attend
to speak out against the Mui Tsai system and
school. In addition to providing domestic
demanded its complete abolition. As a result of
needs for the family, many times Mui Tsai were
political and social pressure, in 1929 the Hong
brutally abused and sexually exploited. The
Kong government once again enacted legisla-
owners also had the ability to resell the child at
ture to eliminate the Mui Tsai system. Unlike
any point in time. Once the girl turned 18 years
the failure of the previous attempt, the new leg-
old, she was freed and expected to marry.
islation was strictly enforced which effectively
Illogically, the elite members of Hong Kong caused the use of girl domestic slaves to come
Society and the owners of the Mui Tsai believed to an end.
that they were being charitable when taking in
the young girls to their homes. They believed
that they were providing the children with Africa
better lives than they would have lived if they Many regions of Africa have long histories
had stayed with their impoverished families. regarding the employment of child labor within
Because of this, despite the ban on slavery, the families. The continent of Africa is compro-
12 Background Guide: 8c55b711-cd7a-408b-aea3-64a53f3cb898

mised of mainly agricultural societies that responsible for planting, caring for, and har-
depend on the labor of children in order to vesting the new crops. Children were also used
thrive. The idea of child labor in many societies to transport crops from the fields to the coast
in Africa stemmed from cultural beliefs as well where the crops were traded. Using the kin-or-
as economic necessity. In many societies, it was dered mode of production, European colonists
believed that working with and learning the often employed entire families to work for
traditional craft of one’s family provided a child them. This included the children of the families
with the necessary education that he or she as well. Families worked together on farms or
needed. Instead of being educated in schools, in production in order to maximize productiv-
children’s education was thought to come from ity and earnings. Although some Europeans set
studying and working alongside parents in or- up schools throughout the continent, atten-
der to learn the family trade. By acquiring the dance continued to remain significantly low as
art of skills of the parent, a family’s hereditary families still did not see the need to formally
occupation was able to be passed down from educate their children in a school setting.
one generation to the next. Since many chil- European missionaries were often hypocrit-
dren were expected to preserve his or her fam- ical in their use of child labor. Missionaries
ily’s trade, for the most part, parents did not often criticized the colonial settlers for using
see the need to send their children to school. In child laborers arguing that children should
fact, because of the lack of demand for proper instead be going to school. However, part of
educations, many rural areas did not have a many missionary schools’ curriculum included
school that was close enough to attend. Thus, teaching the students “industrial” skills which
by employing child labor, families were pro- included requiring the children to plant crops
vided with the security that family traditions and make other goods that were sold to finan-
were being preserved as well as with economic cially support the missions. Some children were
benefits of free labor. also forced to cook and clean without pay for
With the introduction of European colo- the European missionaries who ran the school.
nial rule, the use of child labor was further
encouraged. Production of native and newly
The Industrial Revolution
introduced crops in parts of colonial Africa
greatly increased as a result of the demand Starting at around 1760 in England, the In-
from the colonial powers. Consequently, with dustrial Revolution is characterized by a sig-
an increase in crop production came an in- nificant shift in the manufacturing processes of
creased demand for labor that was filled in part the nations involved. New machines and more
by the use of child laborers. Adult and child efficient processes of production were invented
males alike were often used to clear forests for which dramatically affected the nations’ econo-
farming and women and children were often mies and methods of employment. This period
 Harvard Model United Nations 2023 13

also marked a population boom as well as a if used incorrectly, could cause significant
substantial increase in the rate of child labor physical harm including death. Because of the
used in the industrializing states. Although the long hours, children often were subject to doz-
use of children in the work force was already ing off on the job which put them and others
present prior to the Industrial Revolution, in harms way. Many children who worked in
this period expanded the already established factories also suffered sicknesses and injuries
practice. There were many reasons as to why caused by the materials that the worked. For
child labor increased during this time period. example, many young girls working in match
Because of the new labor saving machinery, factories developed bone cancer as a result of
children were able to work and operate the ma- an overexposure to phosphorous. Additional-
chines without the considerable strength that ly, young boys working in glass factories were
was needed in other forms of labor. Additional- often burned by the burning temperatures of
ly, employers were able to get away with paying the molten glass and the furnaces that they
children only a fraction of the wages that an were required to tend. Child laborers were also
adult would make while doing essentially the vulnerable to abuse by the factory owner in
same amount of work at the same rate of pro- addition to the other adult workers.
ductivity. Some employers also exploited child As the conditions for children working in
labor by making a child a “pauper apprentice.” factories worsened, reformers began to voice
In this system, a child was forced to work for their opinions in order to try to improve young
free while the employer supposedly taught the people’s working situations. As a result, the first
child his craft. However, in many cases the em- Factory Acts were passed in Britain in 1833
ployer had no real interest in teaching the skills which made it illegal to employ any children
to the apprentice and he simply used to system under the age of nine in textile mills. The act
to receive free child labor. Orphans and other also limited the working hours of those be-
neglected children were also often sources of tween the ages of nine and twelve to 48 hours
free labor for many factory owners. The owners per week. In 1844, and additional Factory Act
justified their lack of pay by reasoning that they was passed. Although this act further short-
were giving the children food and shelter in ened the child laborer’s work day and made it
exchange for labor. mandatory for them to attend school for half a
The working conditions for child laborers day, it also lowered the minimum working age
during the Industrial Revolution were often to eight years old which can be seen as a set-
hazardous and unpleasant. Children as young back. The last Factory Act in Britain was passed
as six years old were forced to work incredibly in 1874 and it raised the minimum working age
long shifts that could last up to sixteen hours to thirteen years old.
with little or no break. The child laborers also The presence of child labor during the In-
worked with heavy, dangerous machinery that dustrial Revolution was not limited solely to
14 Background Guide: 8c55b711-cd7a-408b-aea3-64a53f3cb898

Britain. In the United States, children were economy by the age of five or six. Most child
faced with similar factory working conditions labor occurred within the agricultural sector
as those across the Atlantic Ocean. One of the and many lower-class families believed that
instruments that greatly contributed to the teaching a child to work at a young age was an
enactment of child labor reform laws in the appropriate form of education. Children were
United States was the invention of photogra- often called certain names according to the
phy. Photographers such as Lewis Hine cap- type of work they were involved in, exemplify-
tured and published images of the deplorable ing the prevalence and acceptance of child la-
working conditions that children faced while bor in Russian history. For example, boys who
working in factories, mines, mills, canneries helped on the family farm were often called
and farms. Hine’s photographs allowed outsid- “plow-boys” while girls who worked in domes-
ers to view the life of American child laborers tic servitude were known as “nanny-girls.”
and were influential in swaying the public’s
opinion and creating change.
Current Situation
Today, over 160 million children worldwide
Russia continue to be victims of child labor. Out of the
Industrialization impacted the use of child entire youth population of the world, one out
labor in Russia as well. Towards the end of the of every ten children is forced to work. Of these
nineteenth century, Russia began to industri- children, about half are subject to the worst
alize and as a result, children were often em- forms of child labor, putting them at higher
ployed to work in mills and factories. During risk of injury, disease or death as a result of the
the country’s industrialization, children made work. In fact, about 22,000 children lose their
up about 15 percent of the entire industrial lives every year in accidents occurring on job-
workforce but in some individual factories, the sites. While the largest amount of child laborers
numbers could climb to a staggering 40 percent is found in Southeast Asia, the region with the
of the factory staff. Children working in fac- highest proportion of the youth population at
tories and mills were often paid about a third work is Sub-Saharan Africa. In this region, 72.1
of the wages of the lowest paid adult worker million children are forced to work each year
and they were often expected to work twelve (of which 31.5 million are forced to work in
or more hour workdays. Although child labor hazardous conditions), representing nearly one
gained more attention in Russia by the time of in three children under the age of fourteen.
the industrial revolution, the use of children in Currently, 7.6 percent of the world’s children
the workforce was by no means a new occur- are involved in child labor. However, when
rence in Russian history. In traditional Russian examining the rate in the least developed
society, children were often integrated into the countries, this percentage drastically increases
 Harvard Model United Nations 2023 15

to over 25 percent. Females are dramatically ers between the ages of 15 and 17 increased by
overrepresented in the child workforce: 29 a staggering 20 percent. Furthermore, when
million girls between the ages of 5 and 17 are comparing the rates of the decline of child la-
forced to work, representing 71 percent of the bor between the genders, a significant disparity
child workforce. The probability that a child can be seen. Since 2004, the number of females
will enter into child labor also depends on working in child labor has decreased by 15 per-
where the child is born and the situation of the cent. However, this welcoming trend cannot be
family that he or she is born into. For exam- seen with the opposite gender. During the same
ple, in sub-Saharan Africa, children living in time period, the amount of males forced into
rural areas are more likely to work than those child labor has in fact, increased. Currently,
in urban areas. In rural areas, 43 percent of the the majority of children forced to work still do
child population works while 25 percent work so in the agricultural sector usually as unpaid
in city areas. Additionally, children born into laborers within the child’s family. The rate of
families of higher economic status are less like- decline of child labor around the world also
ly to be forced into labor than those born into varies between different regions. For instance,
families of low economic status. Furthermore, statistics collected regarding children aged 5 to
the education level of a child’s primary care- 14 show that the amount of child laborers in
taker has the potential to influence the child’s this age group has declined in Latin America
chances of entering the workforce at a young and the Caribbean but has increased in Sub-Sa-
age. In Sub-Saharan Africa, it is shown that if haran Africa during the same time period.
a child’s mother has at a minimum, a primary
school education, her children are less likely to
Ivory Coast
be child laborers than the children of mothers
lacking any form of formal education at all. In a study conducted by the International
Labour Organization, researchers found that
Although some progress has been made in
nearly 12,000 children have been trafficked to
the reduction of child labor in recent years, this
the Ivory Coast in order to work in the co-
progress has not been steady. From the year
coa industry. As the nation that produces 40
2000 until 2004, the rate of child labor declined
percent of the world’s cocoa supply, the cocoa
by 10 percent. However, from 2004 until 2016,
growers rely heavily on the cheap labor that can
the rate declined by only 3 percent, suggesting
be provided by children in order to produce
that the rate of reduction is slowing drastically.
the most profit. In the cocoa industry, the child
Additionally, different age groups show vary-
workers must work with dangerous equipment
ing rates of reduction. For example, while the
and are exposed to harmful pesticides and
amount of children working between the ages
punishing heat. Facing international pressure
of 5 and 14 has declined by about 10 percent
to end the use of child labor, in 2001, some of
from 2004 to 2016, the number of child labor-
16 Background Guide: 8c55b711-cd7a-408b-aea3-64a53f3cb898

the major cocoa producing companies in the they perform miscellaneous tasks such as
Ivory Coast made a commitment to end child carrying goods to and from markets and selling
labor in their companies by July 2005. Howev- various goods to residents of the cities. Others
er, as the deadline approached and eventually work in furniture and garment factories. Along
passed, little progress was made. Again facing the Atlantic shore and near Lake Volta, many
scrutiny, the companies then pledged to certify young boys are forced to work in the dangerous
that their workforce would be 50 percent child fishing industry where children who cannot
labor free by July 2008. However, the deadline swim are at risk of drowning. Additionally,
again passed and the companies still continue young girls from poor families often end up
to employ the use of child labor. being sold into bonded labor in order for the
family to pay off its debts to those of the higher
class.
Ghana
Although child labor has been present in
Ghana throughout most of the country’s histo- Peru
ry, the prevalence of children in the workforce In a 2005 news release from the International
has increased drastically since the latter quarter Labor Organization, it was revealed that up
of 20th century. As a result of pressure from the to 50,000 children are working in gold mines
World Bank and the International Monetary throughout Peru. Being the largest producer of
Fund, in 1983 Ghana implemented structural gold in Latin America, Peruvian gold mining
adjustment programs that deregulated and companies depend on the cheap and plenti-
hampered the country’s economy. Consequent- ful labor that can be provided by children in
ly, more children were forced to work in order order to sustain the US $120 industry. Like
to support their families which took away from those working in the cocoa industry in the
their education and childhood. Ivory Coast, child gold miners in Peru face
Today, child labor in Ghana continues to danger by working with hazardous machinery
increase: 21% of children are forced to work, and coming into contact with toxic chemicals.
and 14% of children work in hazardous condi- For example, children face the threat of tunnel
tions. Unlike in other Sub-Saharan countries, collapses and they are constantly breathing
most child workers in Ghana can be found in in dust, mercury and silica which can cause
the cities. About 80 percent of the child labor- serious physical damages. Children are often
ers are employed in the main urban areas of the forced by their families to work in the gold
country and each day, children travel from the mines as a result of poverty and lack of educa-
economically depressed suburbs to the main tional opportunities.
cities to work. Many of the young people in the
workforce end up being street workers where
 Harvard Model United Nations 2023 17

Haiti ers are found to be employed by families of a

As the poorest nation in the western hemi- higher social class as the child. Again, poverty
sphere, poverty has driven many Haitian plays a critical role in determining whether a
children into the workforce at a young age. 59 child is forced to work of not. While some par-
percent of the population of the small Caribbe- ents are forced to send their children to work in
an nation is below the poverty line which has order to gain additional income, other Haitian
forced some families to go to extreme measures parents force their children to work with the
in order to generate income, including pres- hope that the skills, relationships, and educa-
suring their children to work. An estimated 4 tion that the children gain through working
million children in Haiti need humanitarian will someday help the child and family rise to a
aid because of unsafe working conditions. Of higher class in Haitian society.
all the child workers in Haiti, only about 13
percent earn wages. The majority work within Pakistan
their families and about a third are self-em-
In 1996, LIFE Magazine ran an article which
ployed.
explored the large presence of child laborers in
Not unlike other parts of the world, the type the workforce throughout Pakistan. The arti-
of job that a child laborer in Haiti is involved cle particularly focused on the production of
in is contingent upon a child’s gender and soccer balls in a factory run by the American
location. Boys that live in urban areas are more company, Nike. In 1996, more than 4.5 million
likely to be involved in commerce and trade soccer balls were being imported from Pakistan
while those that live in rural areas are almost into the United States each year, accounting
exclusively involved in agriculture. On the oth- for more than half of all those imported into
er hand, urban females are usually employed in the United States. At the time of the report,
domestic work while similarly to males, rural Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission estimat-
girls are also most likely to work in the agricul- ed that 11 million children worked six days a
tural sector. However, some female domestic week, usually for ten-hour workdays making
servants can still be found in rural Haiti as soccer balls that would eventually be shipped
well. According to the Haiti Living Conditions to other countries. Even more shocking, the
Survey (HLCS) conducted in 2001, the num- organization estimated that the median age
ber of children working in domestic labor was that a child entered the workforce was at seven
estimated to be about 173,000, or approximate- years old. The children in the Nike soccer ball
ly 8 percent of the Haitian child population factories were forced to work in dark, poorly
between the ages of five and seventeen. Addi- ventilated areas and were paid mere cents for
tionally, because the Haitian social system is each ball that they successfully stitched.
extremely stratified, most child domestic work-
In response to public outcry and boycotts,
18 Background Guide: 8c55b711-cd7a-408b-aea3-64a53f3cb898

Nike promised to raise the minimum working harvest more crops in a shorter amount of time
age in its factories and to improve working without having to pay for labor, thus increasing
conditions. The company also agreed to abide the amount of income generated.
by United States air quality standards and also At the same time, children of migrant work-
to establish more educational programs for ers in the United States are often forced to
those working in its overseas factories. Addi- move and work alongside their parents, which
tionally, Nike agreed to increase monitoring of oftentimes limits the educational opportuni-
its foreign factories in order to ensure that the ties available to them. The majority of migrant
rules were being abided by. workers in the United States were born in a
country outside of the United States (most are
United States from Central or South America) and about half
are parents. While some child migrant workers
Although it arguably has one of the top
labor beside their parents, other children called
economies in the world, the United States is
“unaccompanied minors” are sent to the United
not immune to the issue of child labor. In fact,
States without a family member in order to
it is estimated that there are over four million
work and send money back to their families.
legal child workers in the United States and an
In the most recent report conducted by the
additional one to two million children em-
department of labor, it was estimated that
ployed illegally or in unsafe conditions. While
there are about 55,000 unaccompanied minors
some can be found in urban areas, nearly all
currently employed as migrant workers in the
child laborers in the United States can be found
United States.
working in the agricultural sector. Child labor
in the United States can be divided into two Being either an underage migrant worker or
main categories: children of resident farmers the child of an adult migrant worker severely
and children of migrant workers. interferes with the education of the children
involved. Because migrant workers frequently
In a survey conducted in 2001, researchers
change location in order to find work at dif-
found that about 30 percent of the farmworkers
ferent farms, the children are forced to change
involved in the study lived below the pover-
schools multiple times a year which can disrupt
ty line. Additionally, it was also revealed that
learning. Other children must miss parts of
farming families with more household mem-
the school year, usually the beginning and the
bers were more likely to live in poverty than
end, because of the pattern of the planting and
those with smaller families. Children of impov-
harvesting seasons which can further hamper a
erished farming families in the United States
child’s learning. In a study conducted in 1980,
are often forced to work as unpaid workers on
it was found that only 49 percent of youth
family farms. By using his or her own chil-
migrant workers graduated from high school
dren as farmhands, a farmer is able to plant or
while other estimate that the percentage is
 Harvard Model United Nations 2023 19

much higher. from pregnancy and childbirth. Early-aged

Child agricultural laborers in the United pregnancy also increases the risk of maternal
States also face significant health risks ranging and infant mortality. Child brides are also more
from physical injury to disease. About 100,000 vulnerable to domestic violence and sexual
children are injured by farm machinery each abuse. Additionally, underage brides are often
year and child laborers are often exposed to times forced to abandon their education at a
dangerous pesticides that can be especially young age in order to become full-time wives
harmful to children. In 2003, the United States which decreases the prevalence of future eco-
Environmental Protection Agency discovered nomic opportunities that are available to them.
that children under the age of fifteen are three Underage marriage is often driven by pov-
times more likely than adults to develop cancer erty and tradition. Families of the bride often
as a result of exposure to the carcinogens found receive compensation for their daughter’s hand
in some pesticides. Clearly, farm work can pose in marriage. Additionally, a female’s bride price
a serious threats to the wellbeing of children often decreases as her age increases which
and more needs to be done in order to protect provides incentive for a family to marry its
the youth from experiencing these perils. daughter at a young age. Furthermore, families
may arrange for their daughter to marry early
SUBTOPIC B: CHILD MARRIAGE so that they no longer need to provide for her,
which reduces their economic burden. Also,
Explaining the Problem
in many parts of the world a female’s purity
Child marriage is defined as any marriage of is highly valued which may provide further rea-
a person before the age of 18. Although child son for a family to want to marry their daugh-
marriage affects both genders, females bear a ter young. Although many countries have ad-
disproportionate burden of the practice. Ac- opted laws that make underage marriage illegal,
cording to the World Health Organization, the practice is still widespread and more needs
over 140 million girls worldwide became child to be done in order to ensure that children are
brides between 2011 and 2020. Today, 21% not being treated unfairly.
of girls under 18 are married in childhood -
roughly 12 million a year. Although the bride
is often underage, the groom usually is not. In History of the Problem
fact, the groom is often significantly older than Child marriage is a difficult issue to eliminate
bride. Underage marriage can have many neg- because it is one that is rooted in deep tradi-
ative effects on the children involved. Because tions and customs. During ancient times, child
of their young age and bodies that are not fully marriage was the standard practice in most
developed, child brides have a higher chance of of the world. However, as society progressed
suffering from serious complications resulting and some regions began to prohibit the prac-
20 Background Guide: 8c55b711-cd7a-408b-aea3-64a53f3cb898

tice of child marriage, others did not. There to feed, clothe and provide an education for.
are many factors that encourage the practice In most situations, once a girl becomes mar-
of child marriage including poverty, religion, ried, she becomes the responsibility of the new
inadequate laws, and politics. In order to better groom and his family. She will often be forced
understand the current situation of child labor, to leave her own home and go live with the
it is first important to take a look at its world- groom either alone, or in the house of her new-
wide history and what factors are behind the ly acquired in-laws where she will be provided
prevalence of the phenomenon. The main fac- for.
tors that contribute to the prevalence of child Additionally, in many communities where
labor have for the most part remained constant child marriage is common, a daughter can
throughout most of modern history. Because be sold by her family like a commodity. The
the practice of child marriage is so closely household of the bride will often collect a bride
entangled with historical traditions, the reasons price from the groom’s family in exchange for
for its existence today have changed very little the girl’s hand in marriage. Young, “pure” girls
from the those of when the practice first began. can often fetch a larger bride price than those
that are older and more experienced. Severely
Traditional Causes of Child Marriage impoverished families may see the marriage
of their young daughters as a way of receiving
Poverty
much needed funds. On the other hand, in
For many impoverished families, forc- different regions of the world the bride’s family
ing their daughters into marriage at an early will actually pay the groom’s family to marry
age has many economic benefits. If a daughter their daughter. In these situations, the younger
becomes married, that means that the family and less educated that the girl is, the less money
no longer has to economically support and care her family has to pay to the groom’s family
for her which effectively leaves more resources which further exacerbates the problem of pro-
to the rest of the family. Additionally, some tecting young girls from forced marriages.
families choose to spend more resources on
their sons because the parents believe that the
male members of the family will do more to Tradition
provide money and resources to the family in One reason as to why child marriage is still
the future. Because of this, household that are so pervasive in modern times has to do with
strapped for money will oftentimes only edu- the fact that so many see it as a tradition. Par-
cate and invest in the futures of their sons while ents that were once victims of child marriage
at the same time view the daughters of the fam- force their own children to suffer the same fate
ily as burdens. Marrying off a daughter reduces because they, and multiple family generations
the amount of members that a household needs before them, had to go through it at one time
 Harvard Model United Nations 2023 21

of their lived, too. Those that do not abide by Although Richard II was of age, at the time of
these traditions are often ostracized from the the marriage Isabel was just barely seven years
community and looked down upon. old. The marriage was arranged in order to
In many regions, it is also the societal form an alliance between England and France
norm that a bride remains a virgin until she during a time of great political turmoil. Al-
is married to her husband. Oftentimes, if a though the marriage was short-lived due to the
woman engages in sexual activities before she is untimely death of King Richard II, it nonethe-
married, she will be seen as bringing dishonor less demonstrates the extent to which families
upon her family as well as being undesirable for will go for political gain. Situations like this are
marriage. In order to prevent this, many tradi- not only unique to royals. Powerful or up-
tional families attempt to arrange marriages for per-class household within a community have
their daughters at young ages so that there is and currently follow similar practices in order
less of a chance and less time for the girls to be to ensure that their families retain high social
involved in situations which would make a girl status.
“impure”.
Ancient Rome and Western Europe
Politics Some historians have found that the tradition
In some cases, marriages involving of child marriage was very much prevalent in
child brides have been used to settle disputes the society of Ancient Rome. It has been dis-
between feuding families or communities. In covered that the most typical age of marriage
such cases, young girls are used as voiceless for a Roman girl was at fourteen years. On the
pawns in settlement disputes that more than other hand, girls born into the upper classes
likely do not immediately concern them. In of Roman society were expected to marry at
order to settle a disagreement between two an even earlier age, usually by the time that
hostile families, one party may offer the other they turned twelve. Like most civilizations at
a young daughter in exchange for peace. By the time, the Romans tended to get married at
accepting the offer, the two families would then young ages though they still did try to regulate
be bound by familial ties and the dispute would the prevalence of child marriages.
be solved. Ancient Rome did have some form of child
In other situations, children from labor laws. Males were not allowed to marry
powerful families have been forcibly married to before the age of fourteen whereas females were
other such families in order to consolidate and not permitted to enter into marriage before the
retain power. For example, in the year 1396, age of twelve. After Rome adopted Christiani-
King Richard II of England married Isabel, ty and became the center for Catholicism, the
the daughter of King Charles IV of France. minimum permissible age of marriages became
22 Background Guide: 8c55b711-cd7a-408b-aea3-64a53f3cb898

adopted by the Catholic Church and was writ- other through a marriage contract with another
ten into the Church’s laws. As the influence of family. The parents, not the marrying children,
the Catholic Church spread throughout West- participated in the contract.” The property
ern Europe so to did its rules which included that a child inherited through birth would
those pertaining to the minimum age of mar- be directly transferred to the groom’s parents
riage. These laws governed Western Europe upon completion of the marriage. Marriage was
throughout the Middle Ages until the Catholic strictly regulated by the parents of the children
church was weakened during the Protestant and oftentimes the first time that the bride
Reformation and Canon Law no longer applied and groom saw each others’ faces was after the
to some parts of Europe. However, although wedding ceremony was performed. Similar-
the laws of the Catholic Church were no longer ly to contemporary and historical situations
followed by the newly reformed regions, some regarding underage marriage, the children
areas still decided to retain the regulations involved in the marriage had absolutely no say
pertaining to the minimum age of marriage. in the manner and were just used by adults
For example, when England cut ties from the as pawns for gaining or retaining wealth and
Catholic Church, the newly formed Anglican status. Fearing that the child bride may attempt
Church decided to write the old minimum age to flee her marriage situation, a girl was often
requirements into its new set of laws. Although threatened with warnings of punishment if
children in Europe were still able and forced to such a situation occurred. Additionally, it was
get married at young ages, the fact that most engrained into females’ heads from a young age
of Europe followed some code governing child that loyalty and respect for a bride’s husband
marriage regulation shows that child marriage and his family is one of the most important
has been a topic of importance in Europe for human qualities. Moreover, the practice of
quite some time. “foot binding” further discouraged girls from
running away from their marriages by physi-
cally handicapping the child bride and binding
China
her to her new way of life so that she cannot
In historical China, marriage was considered escape. Children, especially girls, in traditional
to be another form of a financial transaction. Chinese marriages were ruled by the decisions
Property and money was exchanged through of the adults around them and most times they
the marriage of one child to the child of anoth- had absolutely no say as to who they would
er family. According to a 1973 article published spend the rest of their lives with.
in The Economic Journal, “every marriage
therefore involved an outright transfer; the
parents of a family either yielded their rights to
one child or acquired property rights over an-
 Harvard Model United Nations 2023 23

Colonial India For example, during the mid-eighteenth centu-

During the nineteenth century, child mar- ry, journalist Pandit Vidyasagar wrote an article
riage became a widespread practice throughout about the detrimental effects of underage mar-
the entire population of India though it had riage and asked others to promise not to marry
been popular among the higher castes for some their daughters until the age of eleven and their
time before. The practice of child marriage sons until the age of eighteen. Although the
gained support from the Shastric (sacred law) people who honored his request would still be
and it acquired widespread acceptance from marrying their children at a very young age, it
the general population and became engrained could still be counted as an improvement on
as a custom. The use of child marriage allowed the current normal situation at the time.
adults to maintain the structure of the highly Due to pressure cause by reformists such as
stratified social caste system of India. By having Vidyasagar and others, the Indian government
their children marry at a very early age, parents passed the Special Marriage Bill of 1872 which
took away the risk that a son or daughter may set the minimum age of marriage of girls to
attempt to break social norms by marrying a fourteen years and that of boys to eighteen
person from a different caste at a later age when years. However, this act was only minimally
he or she was able to think for themselves. beneficial as it only applied to those that “did
Additionally, parents especially preferred to not belong to the Hindi, Muslim, Christian,
force their daughters to marry young because Sikh, or Jaina community,” or in other words,
in India, a great deal of importance was placed just about all of the population of India. How-
on a female’s chastity at marriage. Adults ever, the reformists did not settle and they
reasoned that if their daughter married before continued to fight for legislation that would
she reached puberty, there would be less of a encompass the rest of the population. Child
chance that her purity would be jeopardized marriage soon became an extremely hot social
before marriage. Additionally, some believed topic in India as more and more people began
that by having a female marry early, she be- to rally behind the cause. National newspapers
come protected from forms of sexual assault ran highly publicized, personal accounts from
because she has her husband to protect her women who were child brides. These accounts
(though by unwillingly becoming married to chronicled in detail some of the horrors that
an older man, she would then face other threats young, married girls face and further helped
of sexual assault from him). to sway public opinion against the practice of
However, not all citizens of India were in child labor. Due to the pressure that they were
support of child marriage. There were some re- receiving, in 1891 the government made an
formers who worked hard to change public and amendment to the national Criminal Code
governmental opinions regarding the custom. which raised the minimum age of consent to
twelve years old but refused to set any restric-
24 Background Guide: 8c55b711-cd7a-408b-aea3-64a53f3cb898

tions on the minimum age of marriage. Al- standards continue to be ignored or sidelined.
though the amendment did not fully satisfy the Although some of the nations within this bloc
demands of the reformers, the political atten- may have different motives behind their de-
tion that the amendment received raised public cisions to not ratify the convention, working
awareness of the issue even further. It was not together this group of nations has the potential
until the year 1929 that further legislation was to form a powerful allegiance.
passed to protect children who were vulner-
able to falling victims of child marriage. The
AGRICULTURAL/INDUSTRIAL
Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929 made it a
BASED NATIONS
crime for an adult male to marry a child bride.
Additionally, the new law also held others As mentioned previously, almost two-thirds
accountable for protecting child brides as well. of the worldwide child labor force in locat-
As a result of the act, accomplices to under- ed in the agricultural economic sector. That
age unions (such as child marriage officiators being said, nations that have more agricultural
and the parents of child brides) could now be economies may rely more heavily on the use
punished by imprisonment and fines if they child labor than those with primarily industrial
were found to be connected to the marriage economies. While the criminalization of child
of a child to an older man. Although India has labor may significantly hurt the economies of
made some headway in the fight against child agriculturally based nations by considerably
marriage, it still currently has one of the biggest reducing part of the workforce, more industrial
populations of child marriage occurrences and nations may not feel the same effect on their
much more needs to be done in order to eradi- economies and may be more willing to support
cate child marriage from the nation for good. stronger child labor legislation.

BLOC POSITIONS
NATIONS WITH RELATIVELY
COUNTRIES WHO DID/DID NOT HIGH/LOW GDPs
NOT RATIFY THE MINIMUM AGE It has been discussed that poverty is one of
CONVENTION the main instigators of child labor. Many im-
As of today, although 176 member nations poverished families throughout the world rely
of the ILO ratified the 1973 Minimum Age on the free labor or income that a child worker
Convention, 7 countries have still decided not can provide in order to support the household.
to. Many historically and currently problem- Not surprisingly, nations with higher per-
atic nations with respect to child labor such as centages of poverty also tend to have a higher
Australia, Bangladesh, Ghana, and Liberia have presence of child laborers. It may be in the best
only recently ratified the convention, and its interest of nations with populations that have
relatively low GDPs to create a bloc out of con-
 Harvard Model United Nations 2023 25

cern that eliminating child labor could poten- and monitor the situation of child laborers
tially further impoverish their citizens. Poorer within each country with more accuracy than
nations may argue that eliminating child labor those that are more lax in their enforcement.
would take away the extra income that they One reason as to why some nations do not
provide for economically challenged families strictly enforce child labor laws or monitor the
and it would send many of its citizens further market may be because they do not have the
into poverty which would also end up being proper funding or resources to do so. It may be
detrimental to the children were supposed to in the interest of such nations to form a bloc
be helped. Additionally, by eliminating child in order to lobby for international assistance
labor, agricultural families would then have for the fight against child labor in individual
to hire more paid laborers which may not be countries. Although it was decided at the 2010
affordable to some families. Global Child Labour Conference in the Hague
Furthermore, impoverished nations without that individual governments have the primary
free or accessible education systems may argue responsibility to reduce child labor, this might
that the elimination of child labor would create not always be possible and some countries may
a surplus of idle children. Because some fam- need further assistance from the United Na-
ilies do not have access to schools or cannot tions and other international organizations in
afford to send their children to school, elimi- order to do.
nating child labor would leave a large amount
QUESTIONS A RESOLUTION
of children without daily structured schedules.
MUST ANSWER
Nations where this scenario may be applicable
could argue that since children would not be Reducing the presence of child labor
attending school anyways, children might as
1.) What UN resolutions with the aim of re-
well be able to work so that they can contribute
ducing child labor are currently in place? How
to their families’ expenses while at the same
can these resolutions be improved upon to be
time learn skills for a job which could be bene-
more effective?
ficial later in life.
2.) How can current education systems be
improved so that families who cannot afford
NATIONS REQUESTION ASSIS- or do not have access to schools can send their
TANCE FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST children to school instead of to work?
CHILD LABOR
3.) What can be done to decrease the world-
Although most countries have some form of wide demand for child labor?
child labor laws, they are not always equally
4.) What measures can be taken to reduce
enforced worldwide. Countries that firmly en-
worldwide poverty so that families no longer
force child labor laws are often able to regulate
have to rely on the income of children to sup-
26 Background Guide: 8c55b711-cd7a-408b-aea3-64a53f3cb898

port the household? information available can be daunting and it

5.) What more can be done to inform nation- can be difficult to figure out where to begin
al populations about the dangers and stagger- your research. For more general information
ing presence of child labor in their respective regarding the worldwide state and background
countries? Additionally, what more can be done of child labor, I would suggest first checking
to entice citizens to report cases of child labor out the section labeled “child labour” on the
violations? UNICEF website. Within the site are embedded
links that will take you to certain UN publi-
Protecting current child laborers
cations that are pertinent to the topic. If you
1.) Seeing as the enforcement of child labor are looking for a specific UN document, the
laws can sometimes be detrimental to the safety Document Search System is a very useful tool
of child laborers, how can child labor legisla- that will more than likely provide what you are
tion be properly enforced so that the conditions looking for. Although the International Labour
of current child workers do not worsen? Organization’s website on child labor shares
2.) What resources can be provided to cur- some similarities with that of UNICEF, it does
rent child workers that provide them with the contain more in depth details such as statistics
means to escape from the world of child labor and past actions that the UNICEF page lacks.
and reclaim their childhoods? Additionally, If you or your school has access to an online
what resources can be provided that inform journal database such as JSTOR, it might be
working children of their rights to education beneficial to perform a simple search for schol-
and a labor-free childhood? arly articles relating to the child labor policies
3.) How should governments and inter- of your country.
national organizations navigate the fine line Although I do not anticipate that you will
between attempting to protect and reduce the have a problem finding sufficient data online,
presence of child labor without causing chil- there are still some very helpful books that
dren to disappear into more dangerous and can without a doubt aid you in your research.
hidden forms of employment to avoid detec- One book in particular that I found particu-
tion? larly useful is titled The World of Child Labor:
An Historical and Regional Survey (complete
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER information can be found in the bibliography).
RESE ARCH This book explores the history and current
situation of child labor on a country-by-coun-
Because child labor is such an important and
try basis and encompasses research done by
global topic, there are a countless number of
multiple different authors. Additionally, keep
sources that you will come across while doing
an eye out for articles relating to child labor in
research. Sometimes the sheer magnitude of
newspapers such as The New York Times, the
 Harvard Model United Nations 2023 27

BBC or other renowned publications. How- In 1973, the ILO drafted the Minimum Age
ever, if you are still running into some trouble Convention which outlined regulations re-
during your research please do not be afraid to garding when a person should be allowed to
contact me. I would be more than happy to give begin working. The organization was moti-
you a few suggestions to point you in the right vated to create this convention based on the
direction! One that note, good luck and happy belief that children were being put in danger at
researching! their workplaces and their work was replacing
school attendance. One of the major points of
RELEVANT UN ACTION the convention stated that no child under the
age of eighteen should be permitted to work in
Although more definitely needs to be done in
a hazardous environment that could jeopardize
order to completely eradicate child labor, the
the child’s safety. Additionally, the document
United Nations and other international orga-
specified that the minimum age of employment
nizations have taken some action against child
to make the most profit off of their harvests. In
labor in the past. The Convention on the Rights
areas without opportunities for free education,
of the Child was the first UN document dedi-
poverty also has the power to deter parents
cated solely to the protection of human rights
from sending their children to school. Be-
for children. Article 32 of the document states
cause some families cannot afford to send their
that children have the right to protection from
children to school, parents are instead forced
economic exploitation and additionally, article
to direct their children into the workforce at a
28 proclaims that children have the right to an
young age.
education.
Focusing on the elimination of poverty would
In 1919, the International Labour Organi-
effectively take the pressure off of parents to
zation (ILO) was created at the end of World
pressure their children to work. If families were
War I as part of the treaty of Versailles. The
brought out of poverty, they would no longer
original aim of the new organization was to
need the extra income that a child could pro-
advocate for and draft fair labor laws through-
vide and they would be able to afford to send
out the world and to prevent the exploitation
their children to school. Although in theory
of workers in rapidly industrializing nations.
the idea of eliminating poverty seems promis-
Today, the ILO is specialized agency within the
ing, coming up with and enforcing legislation
framework of the United Nations. As the ILO
that would effectively carry out the talk is more
matured and expanded over time, so too did its
difficult and needs more attention.
platform which now includes advocacy for the
eradication of child labor. Since its inception,
the ILO has held multiple international confer-
ences addressing the issue of child labor.
28 Background Guide: 8c55b711-cd7a-408b-aea3-64a53f3cb898

PROPOSED SOLUTIONS no longer need the extra income that a child

could provide and they would be able to afford
Finding a solution that effectively eradicates to send their children to school. Although in
child labor is by no means an easy or sim- theory the idea of eliminating poverty seems
ple task. There are many factors that fuel the promising, coming up with and enforcing legis-
presence of underage workers throughout the lation that would effectively carry out the talk is
world and in order to eliminate child labor, the more difficult and needs more attention.
underlying issues need to be addressed. Here
are some recommendations:
FOCUS ON EDUCATION
By reforming education systems to al-
FOCUS ON THE ELIMINATION OF
low children who would otherwise be working,
POVERTY
attend school is another solution in the fight
It is clear that poverty is one of the against child labor. There are several reasons
major factors that contribute to the existence why a child may be forced to work instead of
of child labor in many nations. Impoverished obtaining an education. School may be too
families must oftentimes rely on the children of expensive, too far away, or a formal education
the household to bring in extra income in order may not be part of a region’s customs. Other
to afford basic necessities. Because of poverty, times, in some nations education may not be
children must give up their childhoods in order compulsory, allowing adults to legally keep a
to join the workforce next to adults and pro- child from school and work. It is also possible
vide for their families. Impoverished agricul- that although parents may want their children
tural farmworkers also often rely on the free or to be educated, they do not have the resources
cheap labor that children can provide in order to obtain that goal. Instead, because an edu-
to make the most profit off of their harvests. In cation is unobtainable, parents permit their
areas without opportunities for free education, children to work.
poverty also has the power to deter parents
In order to reduce the presence of child
from sending their children to school. Be-
labor is to guarantee that all children have
cause some families cannot afford to send their
access to a quality, free education. By doing so,
children to school, parents are instead forced
parents who would otherwise be having their
to direct their children into the workforce at a
children work because they could not afford
young age.
to send their children to school will be able to
Focusing on the elimination of poverty do so. Additionally, after free public education
would effectively take the pressure off of par- systems are put in place, national governments
ents to pressure their children to work. If fam- must make education compulsory. By doing so,
ilies were brought out of poverty, they would adults would not be able keep their children
29 Background Guide: 8c55b711-cd7a-408b-aea3-64a53f3cb898

from school in order to work. Finally, schools rural areas, more children may be able to stop
must be located in areas where the greatest working and instead attend school.
amount of children would be able to attend.
In order for a child to attend school, he or she
FOCUS ON THE REVISION AND
must be able to get to it. It is often the case that
ENFORCEMENT OF LEGISLATION
rural children are victims of child labor because
the nearest school is too far away. By placing Although most countries have laws that
schools in not only urban but also rural areas, are meant to protect children from becoming
more children may be able to stop working and child laborers, these laws are not always strict-
instead attend school. ly enforced. One logical solution to fixing the
problem of child labor is to hold nations ac-
countable for enforcing their child labor laws.
FOCUS ON THE REVISION AND
However, the enforcement of broad child
ENFORCEMENT OF LEGISLATION
labor laws may not always be the best solution.
Although most countries have laws that Sometimes, strict enforcement of child labor
are meant to protect children from becoming laws may actually be detrimental to the chil-
child laborers, these laws are not always strict- dren that they are meant to defend. Because
ly enforced. One logical solution to fixing the some low-income families frequently rely on
problem of child labor is to hold nations ac- the money that a working child earns, enforc-
countable for enforcing their child labor laws. ing child labor laws may actually cause a child
However, the enforcement of broad child to work in more hidden and dangerous forms
labor laws may not always be the best solution. of employment.
Sometimes, strict enforcement of child labor
laws may actually be detrimental to the chil-
dren that they are meant to defend. Because
some low-income families frequently rely on
the money that a working child earns, enforc-
ing child labor laws may actually cause a child
to work in more hidden and dangerous forms
of [Link] be located in areas where
the greatest amount of children would be able
to attend. In order for a child to attend school,
he or she must be able to get to it. It is often
the case that rural children are victims of child
labor because the nearest school is too far away.
By placing schools in not only urban but also
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