2017 PJ3490 Access to educational opportunities for vulnerable children in urban and rural areas in Kabul

Conflict and Consequences: Over 36% of Afghans live below the poverty line. This, coupled with war trauma, disability, family violence, irregular employment opportunities and the ongoing conflict has led to a high percentage of street working children in Afghanistan, particularly in urban areas such as Kabul. As a consequence, it is estimated that one in every three school age children are forced to work in order to contribute to the family income. According to the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled (MOLSAMD), nearly six million children were working in the formal and informal sectors in 2013. It is believed that children often work on the streets or in workshops where there is little regard for their safety and security thereby increasing their exposure to exploitation, abuse, crime and illegal substances. On any given day in the towns and cities of Afghanistan, tens of thousands of children head to the streets to beg and work on the streets — even during the winter. These street kids, who earn on average less than $2 a day, are often the only income generators in their families.