About 250 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 work either full time or part time.
Almost half, some 120 million, work full-time, every day, all year round.61 per cent of them live in Asia, 32 per cent in Africa and 7 per cent in Latin America
The story of Iqbal Masih
Iqbal was only four when he was sold into slavery. He was a child of bondage, sold by his family to pay for a debt. Though very small and very weak, he was forced to work at a carpet factory for 12 hours a day. He was constantly beaten, verbally abused and chained to his loom for six years. Severe malnutrition and years of cramped immobility in front of a loom stunted his growth.
All this changed in 1992, when Iqbal and some of his friends from the carpet factory stole away to attend a freedom day celebration organized by a group working to help end bonded labour. With their help, Iqbal, too, became free and soon became a well-known critic of child labour. His campaign scared many, especially those who used children as bonded labour. In December 1994, Iqbal visited the United States to receive a human rights award. Soon after his return, Iqbal was killed by a gunman hired by factory owners.
Iqbal was just one of over 250 million child labourers worldwide, but his story has inspired many to act for change.
Source: http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/briefing/labour/labour.pdf
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