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Prayer for the Day presented by Rabbi Warren Elf of the Liverpool Reform Synagogue.

Good morning.

Today is the 25th World Day Against Child Labour. Established in 2002, numerous events are held around the world on June 12th to mark the World Day Against Child Labour and call attention to the problem.

Child labour is especially rampant in many developing countries - but even in industrialised nations many children are forced to work.

In 2011, there were an estimated 215 million children having to work in the world - 115 million of whom were involved in hazardous work.

Since 2000, the world had been making steady progress in reducing this. But recent conflicts, crises and the COVID-19 pandemic, plunged more families into poverty – and forced millions more children into child labour.

This is unacceptable and we need to do everything we can to address this. We need to reduce and eradicate child exploitation, stand up for children’s rights and transform the lives of vulnerable children.

Child trafficking, sexual exploitation and dangerous work are the worst forms but we need to call out all forms of child labour and exploitation.

So, I pray that we find ways of protecting more children, of challenging the abusive employment practices that harm so many of them. I pray that we in our communities and as a society can reach out to help end child labour and trafficking in every situation.

I pray for a fairer world where children can live, grow and develop positively and healthily, in freedom.

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