Child domestic labour in (Accra) Ghana: A child and gender rights issue?

Type Journal Article - International Journal of Children’s Rights
Title Child domestic labour in (Accra) Ghana: A child and gender rights issue?
Author(s)
Volume 19
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2011
Page numbers 217-232
URL http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/mnp/chil/2011/00000019/00000002/art00005
Abstract
Child domestic labour is one of the widespread and exploitative forms of child labour in the world today. However, the ubiquity of child/adolescent (domestic) labour, together with the perception that such work-especially in relation to girls is important training for later life, normalises such work and renders it invisible. Child domestic labour is thus, largely feminised as almost 90 percent of the children are girls. Many domestics work for long hours with no rest or remuneration, and are subjected to verbal, physical and in some instances sexual abuse in the households of their employers. The conditions under which many child domestics live and work, undermines and threatens many basic rights of children. This paper highlights the child and gender-based rights that are actually or potentially denied child domestic workers in order to infl uence policy development and implementation, as well as advocacy for and on behalf of children.

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