The Concerned for Working Children

30/04/2026

Today, on Child Labour Day – India, we at The Concerned for Working Children (CWC) reaffirm a belief that guides all our work:

🧒🏾✊🏾 Children are citizens today. 🧒🏾✊🏾

🧒🏾📚 Every child must have the opportunity to claim their rights, dignity, and entitlements.
🚫 No child should be forced to work at the cost of their present or future.
🛠️🌿 Any exposure to the world of work must be a safe, meaningful learning experience that complements their developmental needs and upholds their rights — not compromises them.
🤝🏾 In line with this, we are working with adolescents — former and current working children, and those at risk of entering the workforce too early or by force — to ensure their voices shape solutions.

In April 2026, we conducted an in-depth interaction and situational analysis across nine panchayats in Hagari Bommanahalli and Huvinahadagali talukas of Vijayanagara, where children shared their perspectives. They reflected on key issues raised in late 2024, assessed responses, and offered clear recommendations for the way forward.

🏛️ These insights will inform continued dialogue and action with government authorities, civil society organisations, and communities to strengthen responses and uphold children’s rights across Karnataka. 📢

🌱 The first phase culminated in vibrant Child Labour Day commemorations in Vijayanagara and Udupi, led by children themselves — especially former and current working children, along with other vulnerable children from the community.

🔊 When children speak, we must all listen! 🧒🏾✊🏾



Kavita Ratna Ida Oleanna Hagen The Concerned for Working Children FORUT - solidaritetsaksjon for utvikling Azim Premji Foundation KHPT Grama Panchayat Hakkottaya Andolana Suresh S Kripa M M Salesforce Dialogue Works

17/02/2026

"A core focus is prevention, especially for the youngest children (aged 5 to 11) and in rural areas, where most child labour occurs in agriculture. This includes expanding universal access to free, compulsory, and quality basic education; strengthening universal social protection systems for children and families; and promoting decent work for adults and youth.

The Framework recognizes that child labour is both a cause and a consequence of poverty and is shaped by wider structural factors, including lack of decent work and gaps in protection and services.

It therefore calls for integrated, multidimensional responses that link education, skills development, employment, and social protection to address root causes and scale up what works.

The Framework also highlights emerging and persistent challenges, including technology-facilitated commercial sexual exploitation of children and the need for regulatory and policy responses that protect children. It sets expectations for monitoring and accountability, including improved data collection and regular measurement of progress using agreed indicators."

Deepti Mascarenhas ColacoSuresh S

The framework, adopted at the 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour, aims to accelerate progress and reaffirms the importance of prioritizing the elimination of child labour in international sustainable development frameworks.

17/02/2026

https://www.newindianexpress.com/editorial/2026/Feb/12/dont-lose-focus-on-kids-core-education

From 2026-27, the Karnataka government plans to phase out a three-decade-old learning programme designed to build foundational language and arithmetic skills fo

12/02/2026

🌍 Joint Declaration of the International Movements of Working Children and Adolescents in response to the the Sixth Global Conference on Elimination of Child Labour - Morocco, 11–13 February 2026 🌍

Within the framework of the Sixth Global Conference on the Eradication of Child Labour, working children and adolescents from Latin America, Africa and Asia have come together to raise their collective voice.

They stand united to defend their dignity and to demand full respect for their rights:
📚 The right to education
🌱 The right to all-round development
💼 The right to decent work
🛡️ The right to protection

As representatives of their movements — MOLACNATS (Latin America), AMWCY/MAEJT (Africa), and Children: Ambassadors of Change (Asia) — they have discussed their realities, challenges and aspirations in depth. From these discussions, they have presented a joint declaration to reaffirm the rights of working children and adolescents across the world.

This statement is addressed to international organisations that influence and shape public policies, to national governments, and to all authorities responsible for legislating and guaranteeing their rights.

✊✊🏽✊🏿 Their message is clear: "Listen to us. Recognise us. Work with us." for "We are a Part of the Solution!"

To read the Joint declaration in English, Spanish or French, click here: https://www.concernedforworkingchildren.org/news/2026/02/joint-declaration-of-the-international-movements-of-working-children-and-adolescents-in-response-to-the-the-sixth-global-conference-on-elimination-of-child-labour-morocco-11-13-february-202/




Kavita Ratna The Concerned for Working Children Grama Panchayat Hakkottaya Andolana FORUT Entwicklungshilfe-Organisation e.V. Azim Premji Foundation KHPT Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action - YUVA Sakhi Trust Vidiyal Madurai Praajak India Shaishav Child Rights Mahila Jan Adhikar Samiti BoscoBan India Literacy Project APD india

02/02/2026

The Concerned for Working Children (CWC) is honoured to be featured in UNICEF’s global spotlight during the Right to Play Campaign and International Day of Play (IDOP) 2025.

With the theme , the Global Play Movement brought together governments, civil society, and communities, while placing children and adolescents at the centre of the call for the right to play.

Through this CWC spotlight, adolescents and children highlighted that play is a fundamental right and an essential part of healthy development, especially for children facing vulnerabilities and social inequalities. In this spotlight, the voices of children and adolescents remind us all that

👉🏾 We must Choose Play – Every Day

CWC remains committed to advocating for policies and practices that uphold every child’s right to play, participation, and wellbeing.



FORUT - solidaritetsaksjon for utviklingAAzim Premji FoundationGGrama Panchayat Hakkottaya AndolanaRRural Development and Panchayat Raj - KarnatakaKKHPTFFORUT Entwicklungshilfe-Organisation e.V.Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action - YUVAUUNICEFPPLAY International

29/01/2026

Suresh S Article on MGNREGA Act, Published in Janaprathinidhi news on 29-01-2026.

https://epaper.janaprathinidhi.com/editionname/Main/JANAPRATHI_MAI/page/2/article/JANAPRATHI_MAI_20260129_2_2
Grama Panchayat Hakkottaya Andolana Deepti Mascarenhas Colaco Mohini C Ganesh Shetty

23/01/2026

Article by Kripa M M on Administrative officers appoint for Grama Panchayats in Karnataka. Published in Weekly.

https://epaper.janaprathinidhi.com/editionname/Main/JANAPRATHI_MAI/page/3/article/JANAPRATHI_MAI_20260122_3_5

Grama Panchayat Hakkottaya AndolanaFORUT Entwicklungshilfe-Organisation e.V.Suresh SPanchayati Raj Department, Government of Bihar@followers

decentralization & local governance

09/12/2025

Have you heard of the Kundapur Declaration, signed way back on December 9th,1996?

It is a powerful set of principles adopted by representatives of working children’s organisations from 36 countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. For the first time in history, an international meeting of working children was held — and it took place in Kundapur, India!

29 years later, their recommendations remain just as relevant today.

As facilitating adults and systems, let us commit to ensuring that adolescents — working or otherwise — can continue to assert their agency. Let us listen with open minds to understand their lived realities, and their reasons for working, from their own perspectives, and make meaningful efforts to support them in realising their rights.

Because, as they reminded us 29 years ago, they are part of the solution!



Kjetil Utne FORUT - solidaritetsaksjon for utvikling Grama Panchayat Hakkottaya Andolana MOLACNNATS Movendi International

25/11/2025

🌍

The members of the Makkala Toofan Sanghas of Udupi, Karnataka believe that child rights are inclusive, mandatory, and universal — meant for every single child.

But the real question is: Do we?

Let us reflect and act to protect every child’s rights, every day.



Kavita Ratna FORUT - solidaritetsaksjon for utvikling Grama Panchayat Hakkottaya Andolana Azim Premji Foundation Suresh S India Literacy Project BoscoBan American Jewish World Service - AJWS KHPT Rotary International

24/11/2025

🌈 International Child Rights Week 🌈

This week, the amazing members of the Makkala Toofan Sanghas of Udupi, Karnataka, India came together to celebrate and assert their rights — and the rights of their peers and all children — in the most thoughtful and creative ways!

Their voices, ideas, and energy remind us how powerful children truly are when given space to speak, express, and lead. 🌟👧🏽👦🏽



Kavita Ratna The Concerned for Working Children Azim Premji Foundation FORUT - solidaritetsaksjon for utvikling FORUT Entwicklungshilfe-Organisation e.V. Grama Panchayat Hakkottaya Andolana India Literacy Project KHPT APD india BoscoBan American Jewish World Service - AJWS Deepti Mascarenhas Colaco

21/11/2025

🌍 International Child Rights Day 🌍

At the **State Consultation of Adolescents – “Rights and Wellbeing through Adolescents’ Eyes: A New Path to Policy”**, young participants took a deep dive into **Adolescents & Digital Wellbeing**, including recommations to respond to the the impact **AI** on their lives.

This discussion builds on the Child and Youth Advisory Board’s ongoing work to unpack and respond to how AI shapes young people’s experiences, as part of their World Children’s Day campaign **“AI and Us.”** @ https://childfriendlygovernance.org/ai-and-us

👉 **We invite you to LIKE, SHARE, and COMMENT to support their campaign!**

📄 For the full *“AI and Us”* report, visit https://childfriendlygovernance.org/ai-and-us

👏 **Huge kudos** to the many children and young people who initiated and led this campaign, and heartfelt thanks to all our wonderful partners for your dedication and collaboration.

ChildRights
and Youth Friendly Governance Project Concerned for Working Children Infantiles SOS de España Rights Connect : Heirs to our Ocean