Children's Parliament in Beni Raises Alarm Over Economic Exploitation of Minors

Children in Beni, located in the North Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, are facing significant economic exploitation, according to a statement from the local children's parliament. Marked by the recent World Day Against Child Labour, the parliamentarians voiced deep concern over the vulnerability of minors in the area.

Georges Ngumairi, president of the children's parliament in Beni, explained that the region's ongoing instability, including massacres and displacement caused by groups like the M23, exacerbates the problem. Many children are displaced, orphaned, or have fled conflict zones, leaving them alone and susceptible to exploitation. "The right of all these children is so violated because there is war," Ngumairi stated. "And according to the investigations we have already conducted, most of these children are displaced, some of these children are orphans, but also orphans as a result of the situation we are going through here in the East of the country with the situation of massacres, others who fled their areas under M23 occupation and these children find themselves here, seem to be alone."

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The right of all these children is so violated because there is war. And according to the investigations we have already conducted, most of these children are displaced, some of these children are orphans, but also orphans as a result of the situation we are going through here in the East of the country with the situation of massacres, others who fled their areas under M23 occupation and these children find themselves here, seem to be alone.

Ngumairi appealed to Congolese authorities to prioritize security in the region, believing that improved safety would prevent children from engaging in street vending. He also stressed the critical role of parents in protecting their children. "Parents must also realize that by sending their children into the street, they expose them to several dangers," he warned. "There are cases of recruitment of children into armed groups, there are cases of kidnappings. So. For these children not to be exposed to all these dangers, it is better to keep them and protect them at home," Ngumairi insisted.

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Parents must also realize that by sending their children into the street, they expose them to several dangers. There are cases of recruitment of children into armed groups, there are cases of kidnappings. So. For these children not to be exposed to all these dangers, it is better to keep them and protect them at home.