Working Children’s Movement

In the literature, they are referred to as ‘working children’s movements’, ‘working children’s organisations’, ‘working children’s unions’, or simply as ‘Ninos, Ninas y Adolescentes Trabajadores’. In principle, these are child-led support organisations by and for working children that act as advocates against exploitation, but in favour of work with dignity. Over the last few decades, they have established themselves not only as an important part of the day-to-day lives of many working children in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, but as a vocal and influential force in the broader fields of child labour and children’s rights. This entry provides a brief overview of the different movements, their commonalities in terms of structure and objectives, and their impact on the international level.