Child street performers exposed to exploitation

Child street performers, some as young as eight, spend hours at city intersections and traffic signals with their faces and clothes painted gold. To catch the attention of passersby and earn money for their families or handlers, these children stand robotically still, appearing to any empathetic observer as little more than statues of sorrow.

Reportedly, most of these children are associated with professional begging networks that have been using children on Karachi's streets for years, while many others belong to impoverished families where parents rely on their children to earn a livelihood. Standing in their attire for hours at intersections and signals, the children are exposed not only to physical and economic exploitation but also to potential skin hazards.

Non-governmental organizations working for children's rights consider this forced labor and exploitation, arguing that the government and local authorities should take action against individuals and groups exploiting these children. Occasionally, the local administration removes these children from certain areas like Clifton and Defence, but in many other parts of the city, children in such attire still appear at intersections.

Recently, two children in the same attire were spotted near Numaish Chowrangi, close to Mazar-e-Quaid. Aged 10 to 12, the children, a boy and a girl, had their faces and clothes painted gold, as they posed like statues. Speaking to The Express Tribune, the children revealed that their parents left them at the location every evening after sunset, and they stood there until midnight.

When asked if the paint caused skin irritation, the girl nodded, conceding that her skin felt irritated at first, but not anymore. When asked if standing for hours caused fatigue or pain, both the children shook their heads. "Previously, we used to sell flowers at this spot. Passersby gave us money after seeing us in this costume, but we do not know how much we can earn daily because the money goes directly to our father," said the kids, whose father soon appeared and ended the interview.

According to social researcher G.M. Baloch, children in this attire at various city intersections appeared well-trained. "Authorities should determine whether they are being forced into this work or doing it voluntarily. Previously, adults in similar attire, typically artists, performed in major cities worldwide, playing instruments or standing in specific costumes, earning money from onlookers. However, using children for such performances is alarming," emphasized Baloch. Kashif Mirza, Head of the Society for Protection of Children, opined that the use of children as street performers constituted both physical and economic exploitation, violating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) alongside the Sindh Child Protection Act, which obligated provincial authorities to remove children from such hazardous conditions.

"Authorities must take legal action against those exploiting children. The Sindh Prohibition of Employment of Children Act 2017 explicitly prohibits putting children in dangerous work environments or using them for begging or similar activities. At the federal level, several laws also exist to legally protect children," said Mirza.

Standing for hours with paint on their bodies can also pose serious skin risks. Renowned skin specialist Dr Shumail Zia told The Express Tribune that paints often contain harmful chemicals such as arsenic and mercury, which were extremely dangerous for the skin. "Prolonged exposure can cause changes in skin color, dark spots, and inflammation. The risks are further amplified during the winter months," said Dr Zia.