This article is available also in spanish here

Technology to fight child exploitation: a tool not to be underestimated

My list

Author | Patricia M. LicerasIt may seem like stating the obvious, but children should be children, i.e., they should be entitled to access quality education and develop through the power of play anywhere in the world. However, some live in disadvantaged contexts in which they are forced to work so they and their families can survive.According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), around 152 million children between the ages of 5 and 17 are victims of child labor in the world. Most work in farming, followed by the services and industrial sectors, particularly in mines. Figures which, as the ILO itself and UNICEF warn, could increase due to the poverty related to the COVID-19 crisis.Technology is proving to be a great ally in the fight against this form of exploitation. A growing number of companies that are firmly committed to sustainability, as demanded by their consumers, are trying to guarantee the ethical source of their products, which involves monitoring their supply chains to avoid abusive practices.

Blockchain solutions to combat child labor

happy children in AfricaSome examples include car manufacturers such as Volkswagen and Ford and the technology giant IBM, the South Korean cathode producer LG Chem and the Chinese supplier of cobalt Huayou Cobalt. All of them have joined the Blockchain pilot to verify that the cobalt used in lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles is responsibly extracted.The main producer of this mineral is the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country accused of violating the human rights of workers in the mines and even of child exploitation.Most of the cocoa beans used to make chocolate comes from Africa, using children to obtain them.Nestlé itself has recognized that.“No company sourcing cocoa in the Ivory Coast can guarantee that child labor has been removed from the supply chain”. In 2012, the multinational launched its Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation System, which covers all the cooperatives in the Ivory Coast from which cocoa is obtained and in 2016, it extended to Ghana. The program uses local links to raise awareness among families and prevent children from working on the plantations; it identifies children at risk of exploitation and provides solutions adapted to each child and their family circumstances.In collaboration with Accenture, Tony’s Chocolonely, the Dutch slavery-free confectionery company, has also developed a pilot using blockchain that enables its supply chain to be traced in real time, from the cocoa bean to the bar of chocolate. State-of-the-art technology providing the transparency sought to solve any problem without having to resort to third-party audits.

Greater agricultural technification to reduce child labor

African children in schoolApart from the use of technology to combat child labor, some studies suggest that greater technification of agriculture in poor countries would reduce the dependency on child labor. This is the case of the study carried out by researchers from the Missouri State University and the Southern Illinois University, and which focuses on the rural areas of India. It concludes that, with a more advanced agricultural sector, there would be less need for labor, which would allow children to go back to school. It is also more productive and profitable and it would improve the economic situation of families, generating more education opportunities, particularly for women and children.Putting an end to child labor is included in the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. Along the path to achieving these goals, all efforts by governments, companies and citizens will be essential in order to eradicate the unacceptable exploitation figures.Images | Muhammad Muzamil | Roman Nguyen | bill wegener

Related Content

Recommended profiles for you

Remember to activate your profile to network!
Activate profile
MK
Michael Koks
Townlans
Director
LC
Lissette Cruz
UAB
Student
Maria claudia Serje
Maria claudia Serje
MCS ARQ
Architect
MA
Maria Elena Acosta
BID
Consultora
CG
Carolina Grimoldi
GCBA
Ignacio Moran
Ignacio Moran
MOArquitectura
CEO
Will Oliver Christopher
Will Oliver Christopher
Die Strategiemanufaktur / The Strategy Architects
Founder and Managing Director
MASSIMO  Bressan
MASSIMO Bressan
iris srl
CEO, Expert in Urban and Economic Anthropology, Local and regional development, Diversity management
Beatriz Guijarro-Turégano
Beatriz Guijarro-Turégano
Freelance
Head of data analytics in Liquen Data Lab. PhD candidate in urban anthropology.
Paulo Paulek
Paulo Paulek
U-PAYMENTS COMPANY
CEO
Xuesai Ma
Xuesai Ma
UN-Habitat
Associate Programme Manager
Zeke Hoyos
Zeke Hoyos
Westminster
Global Education Programs Coordinator
DW
Derrick Williams
Smart City Hubs
CEO - Co-Founder
as
ayi sugandhi
NSUP-KOTAKU
program institutional, financing and manual
Olatunji David
Olatunji David
African Smart Cities Innovation Foundation (ASCIF)
President/Founder........African Smart Cities Innovation Foundation (ASCIF)
LV
Laura Valdés
Metropolis
Research and Communications Officer
MA
Magy Abo Hashish
HBRC
DD
Dr.Vikas Desai
Urban Health and Climate Resilience Center of Excellence
Honorary Technical Director
Daniela Andreia  Moreira de Sousa
Daniela Andreia Moreira de Sousa
APEXA
Técnico Superior de Serviço Social
JS
JiSeong Song
LG CNS
Project Manager

SmartCity
Thank you for registering to Tomorrow.City. You can now start exploring all the content for free!
Only accessible for registered users
This content is available only for registered users
TO: $$toName$$
SUBJECT: Message from $$fromName$$