This BMJ Paediatrics Open viewpoint by Kavita Ratna of The Concerned for Working Children (CWC) discussed the importance of addressing child labour through a child rights lens. Ratna highlighted the movement of working children and adolescents since 1997 and how CWC has facilitated such movements through their advocacy.
Ratna called for policies that ensure children’s participation in decision-making and address their specific needs, advocating for a holistic approach to child rights that includes education, health, and social security.
Invariably, vulnerable children are the ones who spontaneously internalise the concept of rights as they are compelled to hone their survival skills. For them, rights are not theoretical—but fundamental to survive and thrive. Their level of participation may be in accordance with their abilities, yet their agency is central and non-negotiable. It is crucial for us to listen to children when they say ‘we are not the problem, we are part of the solution’. (Ratna, 2025)
Recommended citation:
Ratna K. (2025) Addressing child labour through a child rights lens. BMJ Paediatrics Open 9:1–3. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjpo-2024-002749