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Today, nearly 1 in 10 children worldwide are engaged in labor that denies them their basic human rights and jeopardizes their well-being. Child labor has been on the rise in recent years, driven by conflicts, crises, and the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which have pushed countless families deeper into poverty, according to the United Nations. For these children, the struggle for survival has taken away their education, safety, and childhood. Despite global efforts, economic growth has not been enough to alleviate the hardships that force families to depend on child labor.

Child labor: Facts, FAQs, and how to help

• Fast facts: Child labor
• What is child labor?
• Why is child labor a problem, and where is it prevalent?
• What are the worst forms of child labor?
• What is the primary driver of child labor?
• Has child labor increased or decreased over time?
• What is World Vision doing to end child labor?
• How can I help end child labor?
• Child labor history

Fast facts: Child labor

• Child labor, by definition, is a violation of child protection and human rights.
• Approximately 160 million children have been forced into child labor since 2020. Of these children, 63 million were girls, and 97 million were boys. And nearly half of those young laborers — 79 million children — worked under hazardous conditions.
• 1 in 3 children in child labor are out of school.
• Approximately 70% (112 million) of child laborers work in agriculture like farming and livestock herding.
• Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest number of child laborers at 86.6 million children, followed by Central and Southern Asia with 26.3 million.
• June 12 marks the United Nations–sanctioned World Day Against Child Labour, a time to reflect on young workers deprived of their childhood, education, and a rightful future.

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What is child labor?

Child labor is the exploitation of children who are either too young to work or are engaged in work that compromises their physical, mental, social, or educational development. Children, especially vulnerable during their early developmental years, are at risk of injuries that may not become evident as physical and mental health problems until later stages of life.

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Why is child labor a problem, and where is it prevalent?

Child labor affects millions of children around the globe by depriving them of their childhood, education, and fundamental human rights. It poses risks of physical, emotional, and psychological harm to those involved.

Data from the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) shows that slightly more than 1 in 5 children in the world’s poorest countries engage in potentially harmful work, as of 2023. This issue is prevalent in areas of insecurity and armed conflict.

Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest number of child laborers, with nearly 24% of children aged 5 to 17 engaged in child labor. Factors contributing to child labor in low-income countries include family poverty and inadequate education. However, child labor isn’t limited to low-income countries. It persists to some extent in all countries: More than half of all child laborers live in middle-income countries.

David, the eldest of five children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), became the sole provider at age 13 after his father left in 2022. Working in a quarry, David faced daily hardships. However, World Vision came alongside David and his family, as it has for other children like him. Through community awareness campaigns and targeted interventions, World Vision helped facilitate David’s return to school with support from RECOPE (a community child protection network) in Haut-Katanga province. World Vision continues to support the Congolese government’s efforts to safeguard children’s rights in the DRC.

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What are the worst forms of child labor?

The International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 182 demands that hazardous and morally damaging labor practices for children be immediately and completely eliminated. The worst forms of child labor, as defined by this document, include:

• Slavery or similar practices
• Child trafficking
• Forced recruitment into armed conflict
• Prostitution and pornography
• Drug production and trafficking or other illegal acts
• Debt bondage
• Children working in mines
• Hazardous work that can cause injury or moral corruption

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What is the primary driver of child labor?

Poverty is the primary reason children are forced to work, perpetuating a crushing cycle that denies them education, a crucial tool to break free from poverty. According to the ILO, approximately 70% of child laborers toil in agriculture. Others work long hours in factories and domestic service or face even more exploitative forms of labor, such as child soldiers or being exploited in the commercial sex trade.

“The work I do at the workshop is very painful. I often get cuts and bruises on my hands and I have to lift very heavy machinery,” says Sajal*, a child laborer in Bangladesh. “I don’t want to work here but I will starve if I don’t work. The kids I used to go to school with now bully me sometimes. They tell me that I don’t belong with them anymore now that I have to work while they get to go to school.”

*Name changed to protect identity.

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Has child labor increased or decreased over time?

According to a joint UNICEF and ILO publication, child labor worldwide increased to 160 million in 2020, up by 8.4 million in several years. This marked the first halt in global progress to end child labor in over two decades. In sub-Saharan Africa, factors like population growth and extreme poverty added 16.6 million children to child labor in the last several years. UNICEF and the ILO emphasized that the global impacts of COVID-19 and extreme weather events could threaten millions of additional children.

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What is World Vision doing to end child labor?

At World Vision, we strive to eliminate child labor and help equip communities for long-term transformation. By placing children at the heart of our work, we empower them to understand their rights and strive toward their own well-being. Together with parents and communities, we support the building of protective environments, working toward a world where no child’s future is stolen by labor exploitation.

Our initiatives focus on:

• Enhancing teaching quality and improving learning spaces through educational services
• Supporting parents to improve their incomes and food security, eliminating the need for children to work
• Advocating for the enactment and enforcement of national child labor laws, including children working in mines
• Promoting social accountability for communities, governments, and businesses
• Equipping communities, including faith leaders, parents, and community groups, to monitor vulnerable children to prevent hazardous work
• Promoting decent work for youth who are above the minimum working age through training, life skills, and entrepreneurship, coupled with access to savings and credit services

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Discover more about World Vision’s Bright Futures project aimed at reducing child labor in Honduras.

How can I help end child labor?

• Pray: Join us in praying for all children who are trapped in labor.
• Give: Support programs that aim to protect kids from labor and other forms of exploitation, abuse, and violence.
• Sponsor a child: By investing in a child’s life, you’ll help equip them for brighter futures. Child sponsorship benefits entire communities through programs like education and resources that help children stay in school and create better job opportunities for them to pursue as adults.

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Child labor history

Throughout history, children have supported their families through farming and handicrafts. However, the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries brought about significant changes, leading to the exploitation of children in factories and farms under hazardous conditions. This prompted the creation of laws to regulate working conditions for kids and mandate education. Key milestones in child labor history:

1938: The U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act restricted the hours and types of jobs for individuals under age 16.

1973: The Minimum Age Convention, ratified by 172 countries, established the minimum age for employment with some exceptions.

1989: The U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child was enacted to ensure the protection of children’s rights to develop and thrive.

1992: The International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) was established to promote the global eradication of this practice and to support countries in their efforts.

1999: The Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, ratified by 186 countries, mandated the elimination of practices such as slavery, human trafficking, debt bondage, forced labor in armed conflict, prostitution, pornography, drug trafficking, and other illegal activities.

2021: The U.N. General Assembly declared 2021 as the Year for the Elimination of Child Labor.

2025: Target 8.7 of the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals seeks to end all forms of child labor by 2025.

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Sevil Omer of World Vision’s U.S. staff contributed to this article.

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Children deserve to grow up in safety and love. But in some parts of the world, danger shadows every moment of childhood. These are not just risky places for travelers — they’re home to millions of children who wake up each day surrounded by war, hunger, and instability.

Below, we highlight 10 of the most dangerous places for children today, along with their stories of courage and resilience. Throughout our 75 years of work, we’ve seen one truth in the hardest places to be a child: danger is constant — but so is hope.

The top 10 most dangerous places

Click a country name to go directly to its section. In alphabetical order:

• Afghanistan
• Central African Republic
• Colombia
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Gaza and the West Bank
• Haiti
• Myanmar
• Sudan
• Syria
• Yemen

Frequently asked questions

• What is the most dangerous country for children in 2025?
• Why are these countries dangerous for children?
• How does World Vision help children in conflict zones?
• How can I help children living in the world’s most dangerous places?

Afghanistan

Children and families in Afghanistan face daily life marked by hunger and hidden dangers. These challenges include:

• Political instability
• Limited access to healthcare, education, and employment
• Severe restrictions on women’s rights
• Malnutrition and widespread drought
• Unexploded weapons ordnance threatening lives

“We had no idea that land was dangerous. These are lands our families have farmed for generations. Our children played there all the time. No one warned us,” said Sharafuddin, whose sons, 12-year-old Salahuddin and 10-year-old Najmuddin, were killed by a mine while playing on their family farm in May 2025.

“I had so many hopes for them. In one moment, everything collapsed,” says Sharafuddin.

Afghanistan is one of the most heavily mine-contaminated countries in the world.

“The risk is real. Our teams have unknowingly driven over UXOs [Unexploded Explosive Ordnance] before, thankfully, without incident. But with no comprehensive maps or warning systems in place, the threat is everywhere,” said Hayatullah Tayeeq, World Vision’s zonal manager in Badghis, Afghanistan. “It hasn’t stopped us from delivering aid, but it adds an invisible layer of danger to every field visit.”

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Central African Republic (CAR)

The Central African Republic has faced decades of violent uprisings and broken peace deals. Since 2013, ongoing conflict and instability have displaced millions of people. The ongoing challenges include:

• Protracted conflict has led to widespread violence, insecurity, and displacement.
• Approximately 79% of the population lives in extreme poverty.
• Grave violations against children are among the highest in the world, including:
  • Recruitment and use by armed groups
  • Abduction
  • Sexual violence
• One of the world’s highest child mortality rates due to preventable diseases, hunger, and lack of healthcare.

Children like Richard (pictured above) in the CAR face staggering challenges, including one of the highest child mortality rates in the world. In displacement camps, their most urgent needs are food, water, and shelter. But as settlements become more established, recovery begins — and so does education, often under tarps or in makeshift classrooms.

That’s when a birth certificate becomes crucial.

“I’m happy to receive the birth certificate because it helps me to be recognized. To be someone,” said Richard.

Without legal documentation, children cannot take national exams, graduate from school, or obtain an ID or passport. Birth certificates open doors to opportunity — and affirm a child’s identity and future.

“The importance of a birth certificate is that it allows you to take an exam, like the B.E.C., or earn a diploma, or get a passport. It affirms who I am,” he said.

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Colombia

As the primary host country for Venezuelan refugees and migrants, Colombia has become one of the most dangerous places for children affected by the regional migration crisis. Instead of finding safety there, many face new dangers:

• Recruitment by armed groups
• Gender-based violence and sexual exploitation
• Trafficking and family separation
• Lack of access to education, healthcare, and shelter
• Psychological trauma from violence and displacement

Armed conflict, violence, displacement, and humanitarian gaps have created multiple layers of risk, particularly in border and conflict-affected regions like Catatumbo.

More than 2.8 million Venezuelans, including 800,000 children, are living in Colombia. Children describe life in Colombia’s conflict zones as terrifying. Aime, a 14-year-old from Venezuela, told UNICEF, “We can’t leave our houses after 9 p.m. We can’t even go to the store because of the fear that they’ll take us away or they will recruit us. Young people are taken, without understanding what they are going to do to them. They are taken by force.”

“Entire families, including children and adolescents, have been forced to leave their homes in search of refuge in other parts of the country and at the border with Venezuela,” said Peter Gape, national director for World Vision in Colombia and Venezuela. “We ask for your prayers for those suffering from this crisis, for our team working tirelessly to provide humanitarian aid, and for a prompt resolution that brings peace and hope to the affected communities.”

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Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

In the eastern DRC, spikes in violence are a continual threat, especially against children. The United Nations reports that children are being recruited and armed, which is a grave violation of international law. In South Kivu, thousands have been displaced, and millions of children face increased risks of exploitation, trauma, hunger, and disease outbreaks. The ongoing challenges include:

• Over 15 million children live in instability.
• A deadly cholera epidemic has spread across six provinces, with more than 18,000 cases and 364 deaths reported since January 2025.
• Flooding and unsafe water increase the threat of illness
• In mining provinces like Lualaba and Haut-Katanga, child labor is widespread. Tens of thousands of children work in cobalt and copper extraction.

In towns like Kakanda, children as young as 6 work to support their families by selling food on the streets, carrying water, or caring for younger siblings. Children like the young girl shown above dig through toxic rubble with their bare hands, hoping to earn enough for a meal. Without safety gear, they risk injury, illness, or even death. Eleven-year-old Chantal* (not pictured) began working in the mines at age 9 after her father died. “I haven’t been to school in three months,” says Chantal*, who cooks and cleans for her family instead of attending class. “Sometimes I was so tired I’d fall asleep on the ground, right among the rocks,” she says.

Though Congolese law prohibits underage labor in mining, extreme poverty forces many families to rely on income from their children. Most earn less than $2 a day.

*Names changed to protect identity

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Gaza and the West Bank

Children in Gaza face unparalleled hardships, with no safe place to seek refuge amid a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Movement restrictions and displacements are causing a spiraling economic crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, as families are unable to harvest crops and have depleted their savings. Many people in the West Bank are experiencing acute food insecurity, with nearly half a million facing severe hunger. Since January 2025, an escalation of armed violence has devastated cities across the northern West Bank, displacing over 40,000 people, destroying homes, and forcing dozens of schools to close. The ongoing challenges include:

• Death and injury from armed conflict, famine conditions, severe malnutrition, and starvation.
• Access to food, clean water, and medical care is severely limited.
• Trauma and protection risks rise for children, especially those separated from their families.

World Vision currently operates in the West Bank and broader Middle East region, providing emergency humanitarian aid and support.

Suha, a 30-year-old mother from the Tulkarem Refugee Camp in the northern West Bank, never imagined she would be uprooted from her home with nothing but a few clothes for her daughter.

“We had a routine, a home, and hope,” she says. But when her family was ordered to leave, they had minutes to pack. Later, when Suha and her husband returned to retrieve their belongings, they were shot at. “We had to run for our lives. We left everything behind in the street.”

Suha, her husband, and daughter first found shelter in an overcrowded family home before moving in with her parents. Her husband is now unemployed, and the family relies entirely on humanitarian aid.

“It breaks our hearts,” Suha says. “We feel ashamed to ask for help, but we have no other choice.”

Suha has not yet been able to re-enroll her daughter in kindergarten due to financial hardship. The family’s future remains uncertain.

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Haiti

Horrific violence, political collapse, and natural disasters, including Hurricane Melissa in late October 2025, have pushed Haiti into a free fall. Armed groups control large parts of the capital, cutting families off from food and medical care. The major challenges include:

• Over 5 million people need humanitarian assistance.
• Over 1 million people face emergency levels of food insecurity.
• Gang violence, kidnappings, and sexual violence are widespread.
• Earthquakes and extreme storms further destabilize vulnerable communities.

Wista, a small business owner, fled with her 5-year-old daughter, Judenie (both pictured above), after gangs threatened to overrun their community. “I had no choice but to leave everything behind,” Wista said. Their journey to safety involved crossing rivers, accidents, and days on foot.

“The little girl walked and walked for miles, but she found the strength in God to continue. I was in pain. We crossed rivers on a small canoe,” Wista said. They traveled on motorcycles that crashed into rocks. “I wanted to lie down in the bushes and sleep forever. But I kept thinking of my daughter and the need to protect her.”

At a shelter, Wista was too weak to eat or drink. Judenie, missing her school and friends, said quietly, “I was scared and tired. But Mama said we have to move.” “

Though they escaped the violence, the trauma remains. Wista reflected, “All I wanted was to protect my daughter and survive. But I never imagined how hard the road would be.”

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Myanmar

Children in Myanmar are experiencing a deepening humanitarian crisis marked by displacement, violence, and hunger. The situation has been exacerbated by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake on March 28, 2025, near Mandalay and Sagaing, causing widespread destruction. The major challenges include:

• More than 3,100 people have died, and over 4,800 are injured.
• Thousands of homes, schools, hospitals, roads, and bridges have been damaged or destroyed, cutting off access to essential services. 
• Food insecurity, already high, has worsened as the quake further restricted access to food and clean water.
• Natural disasters, including flooding and cyclones, continue to challenge communities, compounding risks during crises.

Children like Alinka had their lives turned upside down in seconds.

“I was playing when the earthquake hit,” says Alinka from one of the hardest-hit areas near Mandalay. The walls shook violently, and as she clung to a door, it collapsed on her. Alinka broke her leg and needed surgery to recover.

About 50 homes in their village were destroyed, along with the school, the local monastery, and the community water supply. Families have slept outside, fearful of aftershocks.

The disaster has also disrupted livelihoods. Alinka’s family, who sell goods in the market, are struggling with rising prices and damaged roads.

“With monsoon season around the corner, the threat of diseases like diarrhea and dengue is growing fast. Children’s lives are still at risk. We need your help now more than ever to ensure the most vulnerable children are not forgotten,” said Dr. Kyi Minn, World Vision’s national director in Myanmar.

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Sudan

Conflict has engulfed Sudan since April 2023, forcing millions from their homes and plunging the country into a deepening humanitarian crisis. The challenges include:

• An estimated 14.6 million people fled their communities — the world’s largest displacement crisis
• Widespread violence, including sexual violence against women and girls
• Acute hunger affecting over 17 million people
• Deadly cholera outbreak spreading across 17 of 18 states

Conflict has forced families to flee with little more than the clothes on their backs. In Port Sudan, World Vision supports displaced communities with essentials like access to clean water, shelter kits, psychosocial support, and more. But insecurity continues to limit humanitarian access, even as a deadly cholera outbreak spreads, endangering already vulnerable children and families.

Sinein and his mother, Assanea, are the only survivors of their family after fleeing conflict in Sudan.

“I lost my children and my husband, who was my backbone. …” Assanea said. After seeking safety in Chad, they face the heartbreak of starting over. “If I found a secure place to stay, that is enough for me. I can’t go home — there’s no one and nothing there for me.”

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Syria

Syria remains one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a child — not only because of violence, but because of the invisible, long-lasting wounds of displacement and trauma. The challenges include:

• More than 14 years of war and widespread displacement.
• Devastating earthquakes in 2023 destroyed homes, schools, and healthcare centers.
• Return of refugees to a conflict-ridden country.
• Malnutrition and water scarcity.
• Protection threats: exploitation, abuse, and loss of education.

In early 2023, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck both Syria and Turkey (officially the Republic of Türkiye), affecting nearly 9 million people who had already been impacted by war and displacement. In southern Türkiye, near the Syrian border, thousands of Syrian refugees, many fleeing conflict for over a decade, lived through destruction once more.

Sara (pictured above) is among those affected by displacement. The Syrian teen has lived in Şanlıurfa, Turkey, for 13 years and has experienced many struggles of displacement. She recalled one fire that swept through her last displacement camp. “I still remember how it roared through container by container.… That day was so hard.”

Through initiatives like the LIFT Project, World Vision is helping young survivors like Sara rebuild their inner worlds and rediscover joy, connection, and hope.

Sara stepped into the role of a facilitator on April 23, 2025, painting children’s faces and spreading smiles. “I want to go back to school next year and become a doctor — a child doctor — to help kids like me everywhere,” she said.

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Yemen

Nearly a decade of conflict. Yemen’s children face one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, marked by hunger, disease, and collapsing health systems. The challenges include:

• Ongoing airstrikes and conflict continue to endanger lives.
• Four out of 5 children need humanitarian assistance.
• 3.2 million children are out of school and at risk of exploitation.
• Millions of people lack access to safe water and sanitation.

Hamdi, a nurse at a World Vision–supported clinic in Al Milah District, Lahj Governorate, says poverty is the No. 1 enemy. Many families must skip meals, and a lack of nutrition knowledge also contributes to child malnutrition, Hamdi said.

Since World Vision and partner organization Medair began their outreach, community health has improved. Parents are learning to spot and treat malnutrition early, helping turn despair into hope.

Hadi, the clinic manager, added: “With the support of World Vision and Medair, the clinic became a vital hub for food and medical assistance.”

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Frequently asked questions

What is the most dangerous country for children in 2025?

While all 10 countries listed face extreme threats, Gaza, Sudan, and Yemen are experiencing some of the worst humanitarian conditions, including severe hunger, displacement, and the collapse of essential services.

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Why are these countries dangerous for children?

These countries are marked by armed conflict, forced displacement, hunger, disease outbreaks, and limited access to education and protection. Children are at risk of recruitment by armed groups, trafficking, malnutrition, and even death.

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How does World Vision help children in conflict zones?

World Vision works in many of the world’s most fragile countries to provide lifesaving assistance, including access to clean water, nutritious food, healthcare, psychosocial support, and child protection programs.

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How can I help children living in the world’s most dangerous places?

You can support children in crisis by:

• Giving: Your gift can deliver hope and practical help to children and families when disasters and conflict strike in the most dangerous places.
• Sponsoring a child: Help equip a child, their family, and community for a brighter future. Sponsorship helps meet urgent needs today — and supports lasting empowerment through physical and spiritual resources.

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*The following list was compiled using the latest data from humanitarian agencies and global monitoring organizations, including the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Food Programme (WFP). World Vision’s program insights and response updates from 2023 to 2025 also informed the selection. Countries were chosen based on the severity of threats facing children, including conflict, displacement, hunger, disease outbreaks, and barriers to education and protection. While this list highlights urgent but less-publicized crises, World Vision’s disaster relief efforts in major emergencies — including the Middle East crisis, war in Ukraine, and the Venezuela crisis — continue unabated.

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Child marriage and forced marriage are violations of child protection and human rights. This widespread, harmful practice not only compromises a child’s development; it also severely limits their health, wellness, and opportunities in life. And yet globally, at least 12 million girls are married each year before 18 — that’s 22 girls every minute.

As we approach International Day of the Girl (October 11), we invite you to learn more, take action, and help amplify this vital movement.

Why this matters now?

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 (equality for women and girls) calls for a global effort to end child marriage by 2030. But to meet the goal, progress needs to accelerate more than 20 times faster. The compounding effects of extreme weather, conflict, and economic instability are putting even more girls at risk.

FAQs: What you need to know about child marriage

Explore facts and frequently asked questions about child marriage, and learn how you can help end it.

• What is child marriage?
• How is forced marriage related to child marriage?
• How many child brides are there in the world?
• Why does child marriage happen today?
• Where does child marriage happen most?
• Are boys affected by child marriage?
• How are poverty and child marriage connected?
• Why is child marriage harmful?
• How does access to education for girls help reduce child marriage?
• What is World Vision’s Big Dream to End Child Marriage program?
• What is World Vision doing to help end child marriage?
• How can I help end child marriage?

What is child marriage?

Child marriage occurs when one or both parties are under the age of 18. It is a violation of children’s protection and human rights. Many factors can lead to child or forced marriage — from financial or food insecurity to harmful cultural or social norms. Whatever the cause, it compromises a child’s development and severely limits their opportunities in life.

While child marriage is far more likely to happen to girls, in some countries, it’s not uncommon for boys to marry before 18. Often, a younger girl is married to an older man.

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How is forced marriage related to child marriage?

A forced marriage occurs when one or both individuals do not give full, free, and informed consent to the marriage. Since children are not legally or developmentally capable of giving such consent, child marriage is inherently a form of forced marriage.

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How many child brides are there in the world?

About 650 million women alive today were married before their 18th birthday. Worldwide, about 19% of girls are married in childhood.

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Why does child marriage happen today?

The causes are complex and varied. It’s motivated by different factors across communities and regions — sometimes even within the same country. Overwhelmingly, children married under the age of 18 come from the world’s most impoverished nations.

In addition to poverty, no access to education, preserving family honor or providing “protection” for the family, harmful social norms and customs, and religious beliefs can all factor into children being forced into marriage.

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Where does child marriage happen most?

Child marriage is a global issue. It occurs across ethnic, cultural, and religious lines and in almost every region, including sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and parts of the Middle East.

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Are boys affected by child marriage?

Yes. While girls are disproportionately impacted, around 115 million boys and men alive today were married before 18. Boys may also be pressured into early marriage due to poverty, family tradition, or conflict, though their experiences and consequences tend to differ.

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How are poverty and child marriage connected?

Poverty is both a driver and a consequence of child marriage. For struggling families, marrying off a daughter may help reduce household costs or generate income through dowry or bride price. In some contexts, marriage may be used to settle debts or disputes.

While poverty is a key cause of child marriage, it’s also an ongoing consequence. Deprived of education and economic opportunity, girls who marry young are more likely to remain impoverished and dependent throughout their lives.

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Why is child marriage harmful?

Child marriage has far-reaching effects on girls’ physical and mental health, as well as their lifelong opportunities. When girls marry as children, they are less likely to reach their full potential. They often experience separation from family and friends during a critical phase of their development. Instead of pursuing education and engaging in healthy social activities and age-appropriate play, they are expected to take on the responsibilities of adulthood — managing a household and raising a family. A girl married before 18 usually doesn’t have the opportunity to choose her future.

• Child marriage has a profound impact on a girl’s ability to continue her education. Many girls are forced to drop out of school to focus on domestic responsibilities or to care for children. Parents and community leaders might not recognize the importance of education, viewing it as unnecessary for her main roles in life as a wife and mother.
• Child marriages have devastating consequences on girls’ health and development. At such a young age, they are not physically and emotionally prepared for motherhood. Teen moms and their babies are both at a higher risk of dying in childbirth than women who have children later. Complications in pregnancy and childbirth are among the leading causes of death globally among adolescent girls ages 15 to 19.
• Young girls also may not fully grasp their sexual and reproductive health and may have difficulty accessing contraception and family planning information. They’re also more likely to experience domestic violence or exploitation, even within marriage.
• Girls in informal unions, rather than legally recognized marriages, face an even greater risk of economic exploitation and abuse since they lack the full advantages of social recognition, citizenship, and inheritance.

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How does access to education for girls help reduce child marriage?

Girls who attend secondary school or higher are significantly less likely to marry before 18. Education empowers girls to make informed decisions, promotes confidence, and creates a future for economic opportunities.

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What is the Big Dream to End Child Marriage program?

World Vision’s Big Dream to End Child Marriage program focuses on helping to end child marriage and other harmful practices by 2030 everywhere we work in Kenya and areas of Bangladesh through community-driven, faith-rooted approaches. The program:

• Places girls at the center: We work with faith, community, and government leaders to recognize and confront injustices for women and girls in their communities
• Addresses root causes: Poverty, harmful cultural and social norms, and barriers to education

The program uses an integrated five-pillar approach, encompassing behavior change, access to education, economic empowerment, access to water and sanitation, and stronger child protection systems.

Over the next four years in Bangladesh and six years in Kenya, World Vision seeks to transform entire communities by empowering more girls to complete their education, gain skills to rise out of poverty, and break free from the cycle of child marriage.

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What is World Vision doing to help end child marriage?

Wherever World Vision works, we make child protection a priority.

• We empower children with educational opportunities.
• We partner with their families and communities — men, women, boys, and girls — to help everyone understand a girl’s worth and potential. For programs to succeed, everyone needs to work together to help transform harmful practices.

As girls grow into women, our work in maternal, newborn, and child health plays a critical role in improving the health of mothers and babies. We educate community members on the importance of supporting women during pregnancy and motherhood and on the healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies.

Communities, countries, and entire generations suffer the lasting impacts of child marriage when girls aren’t educated and empowered. By contrast, allowing girls to stay in school has serious payoffs, including reducing poverty and inequality and growing girls’ confidence, knowledge, and skills. That’s why World Vision addresses inequalities for women and girls in our work to help communities achieve sustainable development, economic growth, and better prospects for all children.

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How can I help end child marriage?

• Pray for girls at risk and for cultural changes that values their voices and dreams.
• Sponsor a girl today. By investing in the life of a girl in need, you’ll help alleviate some of the conditions that put her at risk of child marriage, all while equipping her with access to the resources she needs to become a healthy, productive adult.

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Every year, millions of girls face a life-altering procedure rooted in harmful traditions. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is more than a practice — it’s a violation of human rights.

An estimated 230 million women and girls alive today have undergone FGM, according to U.N. agencies. New estimates show a 15% increase in survivors since the last data was released in 2016, meaning 30 million more have undergone FGM.

While the likelihood of women and girls being subjected to FGM has declined in recent decades, the rising number of girls born into countries where FGM is practiced underscores the urgent need for preventative efforts to address the growing risk.

To stop the practice, the United Nations (U.N.) established the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, observed annually on February 6. The U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 5 (gender equality) also calls for intensified global efforts to end FGM by 2030.

Here are six facts you should know about female genital mutilation:

1. The definition of female genital mutilation

FGM involves the partial or complete removal of the female external genitalia and may include other injuries to the female genital organs for nonmedical reasons. It is internationally recognized as a violation of human rights and a form of gender-based violence. The procedure is most often carried out on girls between birth and age 15 and is known in some areas as female circumcision or cutting.

2. The consequences of FGM for girls and women are painful and long-lasting

FGM has severe implications for the physical, psychological, and sexual and reproductive health of girls and women. Often performed under unsanitary conditions without an anesthetic, FGM can cause:

• Intense pain, bleeding, and swelling that may obstruct urination or defecation.
• Long-term complications such as chronic pelvic infections, urinary tract infections, and birth complications for mothers and children, as well as emotional trauma and psychological suffering, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The procedure offers no health benefits and is not condoned by the World Health Organization (WHO), most governments, or reputable medical associations. In addition, the economic burden of treating complications caused by FGM is substantial, with the WHO estimating a cost of $1.4 billion per year for health systems.

At 13, Abigael (pictured above) escaped FGM and her father’s plans for child marriage. With support from her mother, local authorities, and World Vision’s Kenya Big Dream program, she’s thriving at school in Kenya, focused on pursuing her education. She’s passionate about biology and mathematics, and she dreams of becoming a nurse or doctor to support her community, especially girls and women.

3. FGM is practiced all around the world

FGM is still prevalent in at least 30 countries across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. It also persists among immigrant populations living in Western Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand.

4. Why FGM continues to be practiced

FGM continues because of deeply rooted cultural beliefs and gender inequality. While most girls and women familiar with the practice would like to see it end, they face immense social and cultural pressure to conform. In many countries, FGM symbolizes a girl’s entrance into womanhood and is seen as essential for marriageability. Mothers, fathers, extended family, and community leaders may force the practice to ensure her acceptance.

5. Medicalizing FGM does not make it safe for girls or women.

Even when performed by a healthcare provider, “medicalization” of FGM is a violation of human rights and medical ethics. The U.N., the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, and many national medical associations have rejected the practice.

Medicalization of the practice is giving rise to an alarming trend: About 1 in 4 girls and women had FGM performed by health personnel. Medicalization is especially common in Egypt, where it is banned but remains widespread.

6. Ending FGM is possible

Most of the countries where FGM is still practiced have legislated against it. However, cultural and social norms must change to end the practice.

World Vision’s child protection efforts focus on educating and empowering communities to reject harmful practices like FGM. We believe every girl and boy is a precious gift from God, and every child deserves protection from whatever keeps them from experiencing fullness of life. Harmful practices like FGM can hold girls and women back from achieving their potential and helping lift their communities out of poverty.

In Kenya, we’ve seen success with programs like our Alternative Rites of Passage (ARP) program, a week-long coming-of-age celebration that includes awareness training on the harmful practices of FGM and child marriage. Also, boys learn to have more positive perceptions of girls who have not undergone FGM, opening a new path to marriage and a shift in attitudes.

The ARP’s concluding ceremonies for girls and boys help replace FGM as an important cultural marker.

The ARP is just one part of the Kenya Big Dream project, which aims to empower girls by eliminating the root causes of FGM and child marriage, allowing them to see their worth in God’s eyes and realize their potential.

The goal of World Vision’s child protection work is to keep every child safe from exploitation, abuse, and violence. We’re committed to educating and empowering girls and their communities to end FGM.

Watch Messania’s Story, an award-winning short film highlighting a strong woman in Kenya who underwent FGM — and found the determination to escape abuse, challenge harmful cultural norms, and sing a new song of freedom.

Sevil Omer of World Vision’s U.S. staff contributed to this article. 

Read more about how we’re empowering Kenyan girls with a new tradition

Learn more about Kenya Big Dream

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Child labor, as defined by the International Labour Organization, is work that deprives children of their childhood, potential, and dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development. Let’s explore this critical issue through impactful photos.

On June 12, World Day Against Child Labour, we reflect on the 160 million children worldwide — nearly 1 in 10 — forced into child labor, depriving them of their rights and future.

Among these children, 79 million worked under hazardous conditions in 2020, further jeopardizing their health, safety, and well-being.

Approximately 70% of child laborers, or 112 million children, work in agriculture, predominately farming and herding.

Child labor is most widespread in impoverished regions, often exacerbated by armed conflict. Sub-Saharan Africa leads with 86.6 million child laborers, followed by Central and Southern Asia with 26.3 million.

Children, especially vulnerable during their early developmental years, face risks of injuries that may not be evident as physical and mental health problems until later stages of life.

Approximately 6.3 million children have been forced into commercial sex exploitation, experiencing severe abuse and violation of their rights.

The negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a rise in child labor, with more children being pushed into work due to economic hardships and school closures.

Child labor prevents children from getting the education they need to break free from the cycle of poverty. One in three children in child labor are out of school.

World Vision places children at the center of all our holistic development work to equip communities to sustainably transform their lives.

Discover more about World Vision’s Bright Futures project aimed at reducing child labor in Honduras.

We help empower children to understand and exercise their rights and equip them with tools to work toward their own well-being.

We collaborate with parents and communities to protect children, helping to safeguard their futures from the injustice of labor exploitation. We work with governments to advocate for the support and enforcement of national child labor laws.

We are dedicated to supporting and nurturing communities’ positive transformation, helping ensure every child can reach a brighter future and live the full lives that God intends for them.

Learn more child labor facts and how you can help.

You can help protect children from child labor.

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