13 June 2025
DUHOK, IRAQ – In Duhok’s busy central market, amid honking traffic and rushing crowds, a 10-year-old boy once sold bottled water and household cleaners just to help his family survive. Out of school, exposed to daily risks and burdened with responsibilities far beyond his age, his story mirrors the silent struggle of hundreds of children across Iraq’s Kurdistan Region—children forced into labour not by neglect or poverty.
Kurdistan Save the Children (KSC) is working to change that reality. Through its Child Labour Protection and Monitoring Project, KSC is tackling child labour at the root—combining case intervention, sustainable family support and legal advocacy.
A Life Transformed
During an outreach visit in October 2024, KSC’s Child Labour Protection and Monitoring Committee in Duhok encountered the young boy at busy central market. A visit to his home, located in a village on the outskirts of the city, revealed the broader challenge: a family of six, no income and growing debt.
Following an evaluation, KSC social workers responded by specialized case management for this family, solving the root cause of the issues by teaching the mother a new skill she can rely on to be financially secure.
The goal was simple: improve the family’s financial stability so that the child could leave work and return to school.
Seven months later, the boy is back in school. His mother’s sewing shop has begun to turn a profit—not only sustaining the household but also creating a new job opportunity for another young woman in the community. With a stable income, the family now affords better food and healthcare. The mother was even able to buy back her wedding ring, which she had sold years earlier to afford basic necessities.
This small-scale project became a turning point, not only for one child but for an entire family. It is a reminder that with the right support, breaking the cycle of child labour is possible.
A Regional Movement
This story is one of hundreds. Since January 2025 alone, KSC supported 392 children across Slemani, Erbil and Duhok through direct intervention and protection services.
KSC’s Child Labour Protection and Monitoring Project was launched in 2007 following a survey conducted that same year across the three governorates of Slemani, Erbil, and Duhok. The findings were alarming, with high rates of child labour driven by factors such as conflict-related displacement, poverty, weak law enforcement, and limited access to education and social services. A follow-up study in 2010 revealed a significant reduction in these numbers, thanks to targeted interventions—establishing a strong foundation for the project’s ongoing efforts in the region. While child labour has not been eradicated entirely, recent data suggests that it is decreasing slowly, highlighting the importance of sustained efforts and long-term commitment to protecting vulnerable children.
The program expanded to Erbil and Duhok in 2021 and continues today in Duhok and Slemani partnership with the cities Center Districts, Ministries of Labour and Social Affairs, police and juvenile justice institutions.
Program activities include:
- Identifying and removing children from hazardous work
- Supporting families with alternative income sources
- Raising awareness on the dangers of child labour
- Collaborating with government and law enforcement
- Providing legal aid and pushing for stronger penalties against guardians who violate child protection laws.
Families are required to sign pledges not to send their children back to work. But weak fines for violations remain a challenge—one KSC is lobbying to change through ongoing legal reform efforts.
The Road Ahead
In addition to the work of the field team, KSC continuously conducts awareness campaigns in coordination with local communities and institutions.
These campaigns aim to shift cultural attitudes, build family and societal understanding about the long-term harm of child labour, and encourage a collective responsibility to protect children.
“As the world observes the Day Against Child Labour, our fight is far from over,” said KSC President Sara Rashid. “But stories like this prove that real change is possible—when we listen, act and invest in families, not just children. The path forward requires more effort and collaboration. KSC will keep going until no child is left behind.”
About KSC
KSC is a non-profit, non-political and non-sectarian organization that provides assistance to children regardless of race, gender, political or religious affiliation. It operates through four essential programs: Child Protection, Education, Health and Youth Ability Development as well as emergency relief during disasters.
KSC’s main aim is to work directly or indirectly to ensure a better future for children by improving and providing their various medical, social, economic and educational needs.
KSC was co-founded in 1991 by Hero Ibrahim Ahmad and Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmad, currently First Lady of Iraq.
For more information
Contact: press@ksc-kcf.org
Visit our website: https://www.ksc-kcf.org/
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