The United Nations has called for greater support for Afghan families to help end child labour, saying children should be in school and safe environments rather than working to support household incomes.
Marking the World Day Against Child Labour, the UN mission in Afghanistan said ending child labour requires creating decent employment opportunities for adults and ensuring children have access to education, protection and opportunities for healthy development.
Arafat Jamal, the UN’s acting Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Afghanistan, said children should have the opportunity to learn, play and grow in a safe and healthy environment.
The statement comes as millions of Afghans continue to face economic hardship following years of conflict, recurring humanitarian crises and limited employment opportunities. Aid agencies have repeatedly warned that poverty remains one of the main drivers of child labour across the country.
According to UN agencies and humanitarian organizations, many Afghan children work in markets, workshops, farms, mines and on city streets to help support their families. Rights groups say economic pressures have forced increasing numbers of children out of school and into labour.
Jamal said efforts to eliminate child labour must begin with protecting the dignity of families and expanding access to stable sources of income. He noted that when adults have access to decent jobs and sustainable earnings, children are more likely to remain in school and continue their education.
The UN has also stressed the importance of education as a key tool for protecting children from exploitation and harmful labour. Humanitarian organizations have warned that children who are excluded from education, particularly girls, face a greater risk of entering dangerous or exploitative work.
The situation has been compounded by broader economic challenges and restrictions affecting livelihoods across Afghanistan. Aid groups argue that strengthening economic opportunities for both women and men would reduce pressure on families that rely on child labour to meet basic needs.
The United Nations said all children deserve equal access to education, recreation and protection from exploitation, abuse and harm, adding that achieving this goal requires sustained cooperation among authorities, aid organizations and local communities to create stable living conditions for Afghan families.
