‘Working Children’ on Display

A group photography exhibition on the lives of labor children working under trying conditions is underway at Saless Gallery in Tehran.

Titled ‘Once Upon a Time’, the exhibit shows a total of 30 photos by 10 Iranian photographers selected by Masoud Qaraei, a professional photographer, Mehr News Agency reported.

It has been organized on the occasion of World Day Against Child Labor which is observed every year on June 12 under the auspices of the International Labor Organization (ILO).

First launched in 2002, it aims to raise awareness and activism to prevent child labor. It brings together governments, local authorities, civil society and international workers and employers organizations to draw attention to the problem of child labor and define the guidelines on the issue.

According to ILO data, hundreds of millions of girls and boys throughout the world are involved in work that deprives them from receiving adequate education, health, leisure and basic freedoms, thus violating their rights. Of these children, more than half are exposed to the worst forms of child labor including work in hazardous environments, slavery, or other forms of forced labor and illicit activities such as pushing drugs.

“On the occasion, the Society for Protecting the Rights of the Child organized an exhibit on the subject, where photos of working children are shown,” Qaraei said.

The society is an Iranian independent, non-profit NGO, founded in 1994. Its main goal is to publicize and promote the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, a human rights treaty which sets out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children.

With the help of its volunteer members, the NGO strives to introduce, convey and promote these rights in the society.

  Moments of Strength

“The theme of the exhibition is the life of working children and not their labor alone. In fact, we did not intend to just show their misery but instead also present moments of strength in their life. The exhibit poster depicts the photo of an 8-year-old boy who is guiding a buffalo herd; it shows his power,” Qaraei noted.

The display has different sections. A part is devoted to the dreams and aspirations of the children; a section displays the emotional and physical damage these kids suffer in their life and at work; and another part shows them doing tough jobs.

Showcased at the exhibit are photos taken by Ali Kazemi, Alireza Goudarzi, Arez Ghaderi, Ata Ranjbar Zeydanlou, Hamid Janipour, Jalal Shamsazaran, Masoud Gharaei, Nesam Keshavarz, Sina Jahanpour and Soheil Behroozi.

The photos will be on display through June 21 at the gallery located at No. 148, between Iranshahr St. and Mahshahr St., Karimkhan-e-Zand Avenue. Those who want to help working children can do it via the society. The photos are not for sale.