Child Labor Exploitation is a Crime, Says Veli-Der on World Day

On the World Day Against Child Labour, the Veli-Der Antalya Branch held a press conference outside the Antalya Regional Court of Justice to draw attention to the exploitation of child labor in Turkey. The organization emphasized that despite the United Nations' designation of June 12 to raise awareness and protect children from labor, millions globally and in Turkey continue to be denied education and subjected to exploitation.

"We are shouting once again on June 12 World Day Against Child Labour: In a system where children are forced to work, we cannot speak of children's rights or social justice," Veli-Der declared. "We strongly reiterate our demand for a society where children are not driven into the labor market and their rights are fully protected."

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We are shouting once again on June 12 World Day Against Child Labour: In a system where children are forced to work, we cannot speak of children's rights or social justice. We strongly reiterate our demand for a society where children are not driven into the labor market and their rights are fully protected.

The organization highlighted that hundreds of thousands of children in Turkey are separated from education as a result of poverty, inequality, and labor exploitation. They are forced to work in workshops, factories, fields, and construction sites. Veli-Der described child labor as an abuse and a crime, not an isolated problem but a direct consequence of the deepening economic crisis and anti-labor policies.

According to Veli-Der, child labor violates fundamental rights, including the right to education, health, rest, play, and the right to freely shape one's future. They cited Article 32 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which guarantees every child's right to protection, development, participation, and life. The report also noted that the labor force participation rate for 15-17 year olds rose from 16.4% in 2020 to 22.1% in 2023, according to TÜİK data. Including children in the informal economy and vocational training centers, the number of working children is estimated to reach 4 million.

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Child labor is an abuse and a crime, not an isolated problem but a direct consequence of the deepening economic crisis and anti-labor policies.