Children in Middle East and North Africa

by Anita Ramdeholl 

Child labor is a problem occurring in all regions of the world with over 250 million children working between the ages 5 – 14. The two countries in my region with the most child laborers are Yemen and Egypt, with over 1 million working children in both countries. However, Israel is different from there countries because in 1991, the United Nations Convention on the Right of the Child was signed by Israel. This sets Israel apart from the other countries because they have laws protecting children from trafficking, prostitution and pornography. While Israel has laws protecting children other regions don’t. But Child Helpline was established in 1995 in the Middle East and North Africa along with 141 more countries, to help contribute to their well-being. It also gives people a sense of reassurance and that there are people out there willing to help. The United Nations wants to bring government, factory owners and international donors together to work against child laborers. There are also multiple NGOs working towards the same goal. The organization Save the Children protects children from abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence. And since it was established in Jordan it has saved the lives of millions of women and children.