During the spring, students in Uppsala County, grades 6-9, have created posters linked to child labor on tobacco plantations and children's rights.
Around the world, 1,3 million children under the age of 14 are exploited in the tobacco industry. Child labor violates the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the global sustainability goals. According to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, children must be protected from work that is harmful or interferes with their education and have the right to education, leisure, play and rest.
"Letting young people participate and make their voices heard on the tobacco issue is completely in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which became law at the beginning of 2020, and also the county's strategy for ANDTL issues," says Göran Enander, County Governor of Uppsala County.
The competition is the basis for a campaign during Tobacco Free Week, week 47, where the students' posters will be used. The aim is to increase knowledge about child labor in the tobacco industry and children's rights linked to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Global Sustainability Goals. By participating in the competition, the students have shown commitment to the tobacco issue and worked with several central parts of the curriculum for social studies and art. Thanks to the students' commitment and effort in the competition, 5000 SEK will also be donated to UNICEF for their work with education and alternative livelihoods for working children. The campaign is also part of the collaboration to ensure that Uppsala County's schools achieve a tobacco-free school year.
"For change to happen, young people's commitment and adults' responsibility are required. It is important for us in politics to protect young people's health and participation. The goal must be to ensure healthy and safe environments for children and young people," says Malena Ranch, regional councilor.
The four winners have been selected by a jury consisting of County Governor Göran Enander, Regional Councillor Malena Ranch, Chair of the regional network for Tobacco Endgame – Smoke-Free Sweden 2025 Margareta Pantzar, and the Health Adventure Youth Council with students between grades 6-9.
The winning entries
Vibyskolan, grade 6, Håbo municipality
Högås School, grade 6, Knivsta municipality.
Aspen School, Omega, grade 9, Tierp municipality.
Ärentuna School, FBK, grades 6-9, Uppsala Municipality.
Fact box
The Health Adventure is a health-promoting, educational activity with a mission to strengthen the health of children and young people in the county.
Figgesresa.se – is a collaboration between Hälsoäventyret within the Uppsala Region and the Uppsala County Administrative Board. The website provides methodological support and inspiration for schools to work on tobacco prevention to achieve a tobacco-free school year.
More smoke-free environments to protect the health of children and young people – In Sweden, we are trying in various ways to reduce smoking in society. This is to protect the health of children and young people. Children's airways are particularly sensitive to tobacco smoke. In smoke-free environments, all forms of smoking are prohibited. Smoke-free environments mean that smoking behavior becomes less visible in society, which in turn can reduce children and young people's curiosity about smoking. When fewer adults smoke, it can contribute to fewer young people making their tobacco debut. Read more about smoke-free environments on the Swedish Public Health Agency's website.
Contact details for questions
Health Adventure – Carina Hesse Bolin, Director of Health Adventure, Uppsala Region, tel: 070 – 535 67 83, carina.hesse.bolin@regionuppsala.se
County Administrative Board - Anna Haid, ANDT coordinator, County Administrative Board Uppsala County, tel: 010 – 22 33 262, anna.haid@lansstyrelsen.se
[1] ANDTL= alcohol, drugs, doping, tobacco and medicines
