An Explication of the Paradox of Street Working Children (SWC) with Special Reference to Pakistan
Aliya Abbasi

Abstract
A scientific understanding of the issue of ‘street children’ embedded in its present context is imperative not only to understand the characteristics, needs and role of these children as social actors and the factors behind their work but also to devise and propose appropriate legal interventions. Therefore, the present research deals with the question: why a contextualized understanding of the issue of street working children is important? The gravity of the problem is highlighted in the form of negative and biased public perception about ‘street children’. The empirical evidence from Pakistan’s urban areas mainly Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar is used. The paradox of the “street child” phenomenon is that streets are considered harmful for children’s wellbeing and the work they carryout is stigmatized. However, the research findings suggest that despite risks, there is a remunerative function to street work which is often ignored.

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