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UNICEF
CHILD LABOR ABUSE
Antonio Herrera
Ariana Calvo
Camila Moraga
COMMITTEE SUMMARY
UNICEF, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, was founded by the United Nations in 1946. Created to help infants in need of help after the Second World War. Since its creation, it has only one goal: to help all children and adolescents who need help. This organization works in more than 190 countries through country programs and committees. Child labor is a problem that has been constantly occurring and affecting the international community since the late 1700’s. In the mid-1800's, the consequences for children caused by labor became concerns by the churches, labor groups and teachers. Child labor is a global concern due to its negative consequences on children, causing bodily and mental harm, and in the more extreme cases even death. It also restricts their education, which can be crucial knowing that in some countries the young population is much smaller than the adult one, meaning less workers for retirees in the future.
TOPICS
TOPIC A: EXPLOITATION OF LOCAL WORKERS IN HUMANITARIAN AID PROJECTS
In conflict zones and low-income countries, UNICEF often hires local workers to help distribute aid, build infrastructure, or assist in various community projects. However, there may be concerns about the adequacy of wages for these workers, who may be subjected to long working hours, dangerous working conditions, or lack of proper benefits. In some cases, UNICEF’s reliance on contractors and local agencies for its operations can mean that workers do not receive fair compensation or labor protections. Exploring how UNICEF could better monitor and regulate the treatment of these workers within its programs could be a key focus of this topic. When UNICEF and other humanitarian organizations operate in conflict zones, natural disaster areas, or regions with extreme poverty, they often rely on local workers to help with the delivery of aid, construction of infrastructure, or community development. While this can create jobs and provide much-needed support to local economies, it also raises concerns about the potential for exploitation.
TOPIC B: IMPROVING ACCESS TO EDUCATION TO COMBAT CHILD LABOR
UNICEF, as an organization that works globally to promote children's rights, has a responsibility to ensure that the products and services it procures for its humanitarian efforts do not contribute to child labor. This is especially important since UNICEF often works in regions where child labor is prevalent, either directly or through its partners and suppliers. These could include goods such as educational supplies (e.g., textbooks, uniforms), medical equipment, or even food and water purification products used in emergency responses. UNICEF can strengthen its efforts to ensure that the companies it partners with or sources materials from do not exploit child labor. This might involve adopting more rigorous screening processes when selecting suppliers, conducting regular audits, and requiring suppliers to demonstrate compliance with labor standards. These audits would assess working conditions, including the age of workers, wages, working hours, and safety standards. UNICEF could also collaborate with third-party organizations that specialize in auditing supply chains for human rights violations.
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