This president has got Togo

Every June 12, "we" mark the World Day Against Child Labor, and every year, the number of children affected worldwide remains high as ever. Yes, we dropped to 138 million (from 160 in 2021), but 138 million is still a large f*cking number. Plus, Togo's president is in trouble (again). He's been in office since 2005 (!), and the country's youth are fed up. I have a bit of an overview for you on the whole protest situation there. This issue is all about African art (from music to film to photography), a documentary festival in Morocco, an African art festival in Switzerland, Togolese rap, and so much more.

There are 138 million kids worldwide who work in jobs that violate their basic rights, says new UNICEF/ILO report

What happened:
According to the latest ILO and UNICEF data, 138 million children work in jobs and ways that harm their health, keep them out of school, or violate their basic rights. That's 1 in 10 children worldwide.

Why this matters:
Behind every number is a kid who doesn't have a safe, healthy childhood.

Tell me more:
The good news first: the number is down from 160 million in 2021 to 138 million in 2025. That's a step in the right direction. ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo called the report "hopeful" and said it proves that progress is possible, but he warned against becoming complacent: "We still have a long way to go before we achieve our goal of eliminating child labor."

Is all work child labor?
No. Not all work done by children is considered child labor. Some work is fine, if it's safe, light, and doesn't interfere with education or well-being. For example, helping out at a family shop for a few hours after school, or doing age-appropriate chores at home. These are often referred to as "child work". Child labor is more than just any job done by a child. It usually meets at least one of these criteria:

• It is harmful to their health or development
• It interferes with their education
• It violates national or international labor laws
• It involves children doing dangerous or exploitative work
• It is too many hours for their age or physical ability

Where is this happening the most?
In agriculture. Most of the world's child labor is happening in the fields, not factories. In 2024, 68% of children aged 5 to 11 who are in child labor were working in agriculture, mostly on family farms. Even among older teens (15--17), agriculture is still the biggest employer, though more start shifting into services like domestic work, small-scale trade, or informal jobs.

In African countries. Two-thirds of all child laborers are in Africa. For example, children as young as 6 are working in illegal lithium mines in Nigeria, often without safety gear, schooling, or protection. In Côte D'Ivoire,Ghana, and Indonesia, there are still millions of children working in cocoa farms. (In 2021, former child laborers sued Nestlé, Hershey's, Mars, and others, accusing them of knowingly profiting from child labor. Some companies denied wrongdoing but pledged reforms. In June 2022, a U.S. judge dismissed the case.)

But it also happens in the U.S. and Europe.

• In the U.S., child labor violations are rising. Since the pandemic, violations of U.S. child labor laws have jumped 31%, according to the Department of Labor. While the Biden administration tried to crack down on violations, the Trump administration had previously pushed to weaken some protections, like here in Florida. In general, between 2021 and 2024, 31 U.S. states introduced bills to weaken child labor laws, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

• In the EU, there are rules banning child labor inside its borders (kids under 15 generally can't be employed, and teens aged 15--18 are protected with strict safety and health regulations). But the bigger shift is happening around global supply chains. A new law, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (came into force in July 2024) requires big companies in the EU to check their global supply chains for human rights abuses, including child labor. If they find problems, they're supposed to fix them or face legal consequences. But here's the catch: The EU Commission has also introduced a very business-friendly "Omnibus Proposal" (to cut red tape for businesses), and critics say it risks gutting the very systems meant to protect workers, children, and the environment in global supply chains.

Togo's president has been in power since 2005. The country's youth are protesting again

What happened:
In Togo, the arrest of rapper Aamron has triggered protests across the capital, Lomé. Aamron, who's known for his dislike for President Faure Gnassingbé, was taken from his home by police on May 26. Witnesses say officers stormed his house at night, destroyed property, and reportedly assaulted his mother. A few days later, on June 5 and 6, protests broke out. Police fired tear gas, and at least 56 people were detained (some have...