Growing up too quickly: Children who lose out on their childhoods

Despite the almost universal ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, summits and conferences organized by international and local agencies, the awareness campaigns and the immense work performed by nongovernmental organizations, too many children continue to endure hardship. It is estimated that 8.4 million children are involved in the worst forms of child labour, namely labour that involves forced or bonded labour, sexual exploitation, illicit work and armed conflicts.The impact of such activities on the survival, health (both physical and mental) and development of children is devastating. Girls are particularly vulnerable. But children are resilient, and although longitudinal data on the validity of the programmes are not yet available, rehabilitation programs adapted to their own culture and reinsertion in their communities have shown positive results.Along with monitoring, research, education and rehabilitation, paediatricians have the responsibility, as physicians and advocates for children, to promote the respect of children's rights while, at the same time, searching for solutions to eradicate poverty and prevent war. There should be zero tolerance for those who violate children's rights.