Condemn the innocentAccording to the International Labor Organization, 215 million children (5 to 14 years old) are involved in child labor. This represents almost one in three children who have to work, wasting time that could be spent on school, growing up and, above all, living in a safe environment. Today, child labor has become a growing concern in the global community and should be ended as it is abusive, destructive and promotes a regressive society for children around the world. We cannot allow our young people to continue in this horrible cycle as it is detrimental not only to our present but also to our future. Child labor is abusive to these children because it is exhausting and dangerous for these mistreated workers. Children are abused all over the world because they are forced to work to meet their basic needs. Child labor is widespread especially in third world countries like Afghanistan where "according to Afghan government estimates, up to a third of the country's children -- more than 4 million -- participate in some kind of work , from fruit picking to coal mining. » (Nissenbaum, Dion, The Wall Street Journal) Children as young as 10 work in illegal mines, often 12 hours a day, simply to meet their basic needs. These children are forced to work in extremely dangerous conditions, where they are forced to perform heavy labor for an extremely long period of time, preventing them from exploring and realizing other interests such as education and experience of childhood. Another example of this would be Mali, Africa where a terrifying report from Human Rights Watch and NBC News reports that...... middle of paper...... the children of globalization are being abandoned. " Global View. February 05, 2014: np SIRS Issues Researcher Web. February 17, 2014. “Child labor deprives millions of people of health, education and growth...” Targeted News Service June 12, 2013: np SIRS Issues Researcher Web. 2014. Maki, Reid. “Child Labor Coalition Announces Top 10 Child Labor Stories of 2011.” Targeted News Service, January 12, 2012: np SIRS Issues Researcher, February 19, 2014. Nissenbaum, Dion. Wall Street Journal. July 14, 2012: A.10. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. February 19, 2014. Shailor, Barbara. “Spotlight on World Day Against Child Labour.” Humanrights.gov. June 12, 2012: np SIRS Government Reporter. Web. February 19, 2014. Villa, Judi. “Lies Trap Children into Prostitution. » (Phoenix, AZ): np SIRS Issues Researcher Web. February 19. 2014.