The Plight Of Child Laborers In Afghanistan: A Look At The Boys

Afghanistan is facing one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world, with children bearing the brunt of the decades-long conflict, economic collapse, climate disasters, and human rights violations. The country's boys are no exception, facing military recruitment, sexual exploitation, hazardous labour practices, and contact with landmines. The Taliban takeover in August 2021 has exacerbated these issues, with the group actively recruiting and using children in their security forces. The COVID-19 pandemic, drought, and worsening economic conditions have further fuelled child labour, child marriage, and child trafficking.

The education system in Afghanistan has been devastated by conflict, with the Taliban's ban on girls' and women's secondary and higher education grabbing headlines. However, boys' education has also suffered significantly. The dismissal of female teachers, increased corporal punishment, curriculum changes, and low attendance rates have created a dire situation for boys, with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression on the rise.

Boys in Afghanistan are subjected to commercial sexual exploitation through the practice of bacha bazi

The practice of Bacha Bazi, or 'boy play', in Afghanistan involves the sexual abuse and exploitation of young boys by older men. The boys, often from poor families, are dressed as girls and made to dance at parties for entertainment. They are then passed around among powerful men for sexual gratification.

Bacha Bazi has been a custom in Afghanistan for centuries, with German ethnographic research suggesting the practice is up to a thousand years old. The phenomenon was widespread in pre-modern times, with sources from the 16th to the 20th century describing its prevalence. In the late 1970s, it was observed that in the northern Afghan provinces of Faryab, Jowzjan and Balkh, at least one-third to half of the Uzbek male population had been involved in Bacha Bazi at some point in their lives.

The practice is driven by several factors, including tight gender segregation in Afghan society, a lack of contact with women, and the influence of powerful warlords who are often complicit in the abuse. The boys, known as Bacha Bareesh or "beardless boys", are typically aged between 10 and 18, although some sources state that children as young as 7 are also targeted. They are usually from impoverished families and are either kidnapped or taken from their families under the pretext of providing them with an education and a better future.

The boys are often unable to escape due to fear of violence or death. When they reach adulthood, the psychological trauma and social stigma make it difficult for them to reintegrate into society. Many turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with the trauma.

While Bacha Bazi is illegal under international conventions and Afghanistan's national laws, the complex legal system and the influence of powerful warlords have made it challenging to eradicate the practice. Efforts to address the issue have been hindered by cultural taboos and a lack of comprehensive data.

Boys are vulnerable to human trafficking, including for work in agriculture and construction

Boys in Afghanistan are vulnerable to human trafficking, including for work in agriculture and construction. This is due in part to the country's economic crisis, which has led to many boys being forced to leave school and work to support their families.

Afghanistan has been identified as the "worst place to be born in the world," with children facing extreme poverty and violence on a daily basis. The situation has been further exacerbated by the Taliban takeover in August 2021, which resulted in an increase in child labor, child marriage, and child trafficking. The Taliban has also been accused of using children as young as 6 years old as suicide bombers and child soldiers, with boys between the ages of 14 and 17 being recruited for their security forces.

The issue of human trafficking is not limited to Afghanistan's borders. Afghan boys are also being trafficked to neighboring countries such as Iran, Pakistan, and India, as well as Persian Gulf Arab states. In these countries, they are forced to work in brick kilns, carpet-making factories, and domestic service, and are also subjected to sexual exploitation.

The Afghan government has made some efforts to combat human trafficking, including establishing the Child Protection Action Network (CPAN) and passing laws such as the 2017 Law to Combat Crimes of Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants. However, there is still a lack of protection for vulnerable children, especially in remote and warring communities. The economic crisis, combined with traditional norms and practices, has also led to an increase in child marriages, with one-third of Afghan girls being married before the age of 18.

The issue of boys being vulnerable to human trafficking, including for work in agriculture and construction, is a complex and ongoing problem in Afghanistan. It is fueled by poverty, conflict, and a lack of protection for vulnerable children. Efforts to address this issue must address these underlying factors and provide sustainable solutions for both the children and their families.

Boys are recruited into armed conflict, with the Taliban using children in their security forces

Boys are recruited into armed conflict in Afghanistan, with the Taliban using children in their security forces. The Taliban have been recruiting and using children as fighters since the 1990s, but the number of child soldiers has increased since 2015 due to expanded Taliban operations against Afghan government forces.

The Taliban use various methods to recruit children, including coercion, financial assistance, or offering protected status for either the child or their family. In some cases, families are forced to give up a child to the Taliban, or they must pay a large sum of money. In other cases, children are lured in with food or candy, and the groups reinforce the notion that the children are doing something for the greater good. The Taliban also take advantage of family and social ties, as children are more likely to join if their father or brother belongs to the group.

The Taliban target children because they are easier to convince of the righteousness of jihad, and because they do not feel responsible for providing for a family, making them more susceptible to persuasion to take on dangerous tasks. Children are also less likely to arouse suspicion and are easier to manipulate.

The Taliban have denied using children in "jihadic operations" and claim that they only enlist fighters who have achieved "mental and physical maturity". However, the UN has verified hundreds of individual cases of the Taliban recruiting and using children in recent years, and the deployment of individuals under 18 violates international law.

The recruitment and use of child soldiers by the Taliban has had devastating consequences. During a military offensive in Kunduz in 2015, for example, Human Rights Watch spoke with several families whose children, aged 14 and 15, were killed in combat only weeks after being recruited by the Taliban.

Boys are at risk of child labour, with around 20% expected to work to provide for themselves and their families

Afghanistan has been identified as the worst place in the world to be a child, with children facing extreme poverty and violence on a daily basis. The country's ongoing conflict, displacement, poor economy, and harmful social norms and practices have exposed half of its 30 million people under 18 to extreme situations of violence and abuse.

Boys in Afghanistan are at risk of child labour, with around 20% expected to work to provide for themselves and their families. This is due to the country's economic situation, where the little money earned by parents is often not enough to feed their families. Afghan mothers also rarely seek employment outside the home due to cultural practices, so the family relies on the economic contribution of the child.

Boys who are not working are often recruited into armed conflict. The lack of reliable birth records makes age verification difficult, and boys as young as 10 are among those fleeing the country in search of a better life abroad. Boys aged 12-17 are the most common age group to leave, but boys as young as 10 are also vulnerable. These boys are at risk of exploitation by smugglers and human traffickers.

Boys who remain in Afghanistan are at risk of being recruited into armed conflict by the Taliban or other armed groups. The Taliban usually recruits boys between the ages of 14 and 17, and 97% of these become part of the Taliban's security forces. Boys are also at risk of being sold into the practice of bacha bazi, where they are kept for the purpose of sexual gratification.

The types of labour boys are subjected to include metalworking, mining, carpet weaving, construction, street work such as vending and begging, and domestic work. Boys often work long hours in dangerous jobs with little to no pay. This work interferes with their education, and many boys are not able to attend school at all.

The Afghan government has ratified key international conventions concerning child labour and has established laws and regulations related to child labour. However, there are gaps in the legal framework that need to be addressed, and enforcement of these laws is challenging due to limited resources and capacity.

The consequences of child labour for boys in Afghanistan are tragic, including absence of education, police violence, and disease linked to pollution and extreme climate conditions.

Boys are exposed to hazardous labour practices, including in mining and construction

Boys in Afghanistan are exposed to hazardous labour practices, including in mining and construction. The country's coal mines, in particular, rely on child labour. Since the Taliban returned to power, coal exports have increased, and so has child labour. Boys as young as 10 work in the mines, earning between $3 and $8 for a day's work. The wages are enticing for impoverished families, who send their children to work in the one industry that offers jobs and a steady income. Children are also more easily able than grown men to squeeze into the narrow mining tunnels and shafts.

Children working in the mines face dangerous and sometimes deadly conditions. They work long hours without safety equipment, and accidents are common. In January 2022, for example, a mine collapse killed a dozen workers. The cause was attributed to heavy rains, but it is unknown whether any of the victims were children. In another incident, a 12-year-old boy was killed by gas inside a tunnel.

The Taliban government has vowed to set standards on child labour in mines, and the Ministry of Mines has drafted a policy that sets the minimum age for coal mine workers at 18. However, critics have questioned the government's capacity to manage the mining industry and enforce these standards.

Child labour is not limited to the mining industry in Afghanistan. Overall, child labour has grown significantly in the last year. A survey of more than 10,000 households found that the number of Afghan families with male heads of household reporting at least one child working jumped from 13% in 2021 to 21% in 2022. For families with female heads of household, the figures increased from 19% in 2021 to 29% in 2022.

In addition to mining, children in Afghanistan work in construction, carpet weaving, metal workshops, agriculture, and street work such as vending and begging. About a quarter of boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 14 are engaged in child labour, often working long hours with little or no pay. The extreme poverty of Afghan families drives many children into hazardous labour. Afghanistan remains one of the poorest countries in the world, and children are often forced to choose between work and education.

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