Childhood through the Eyes of the DRC

Children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continue to be victims of conflict, poverty, and state abandonment. More than 4 million are currently displaced and are under threat of violence because of multiple reasons, such as the armed groups who have recruited thousands to become combatants, subjecting them to unimaginable trauma.

Furthermore, the DRC cobalt mining industry which is reliant on child labor, allows children as young as seven to work in hazardous conditions. For this reason, they are exposed to toxic materials which leads to severe health issues, exacerbated by the lack of safety measures showcase a clear disregard for their fundamental rights. Education is also a fundamental issue, still, as 3.5 million children are not in school because of missing infrastructure, school violence, and inadequate resources.

In addition, girls are faced with even greater challenges. Some of these include child marriage, where 37% get married at below 18 as a way of avoiding poverty. The aforementioned with education issues get stuck in exploitative circumstances.

Childhood through the Eyes of the DRC.pdf

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