In our rapidly advancing era, it’s disheartening to witness the relentless violation of such a cardinal human right, especially among the most vulnerable of our global population – children. This persistent problem of child labor continues to stagger the ideals of child rights, despite vehement global efforts. Our purpose here is to delve deep into the complexities of this issue, going beyond the surface level headlines and reaching the core. Through extensive research and factual analysis, we aim to shed light on the current state of affairs, the socio-economic factors contributing to this predicament, and the steps being taken towards eradication. This issue demands our collective attention and action – because every child deserves a childhood.
Understanding Child Labor
The issue of child labor continues to be a distressing reality in today’s world, despite significant advances in child rights. While many of us are fortunate enough to have memories of childhood filled with school, play, and exploration, this is not the case for a considerable number of children across the globe. They instead face the harsh and often oppressive conditions of child labor. According to the **International Labor Organization**, an estimated 152 million children are engaged in labor with approximately half involved in hazardous work.
Child labor is not a recent phenomenon. It is deeply rooted in history and closely intertwined with the economic and social fabric of numerous societies. Looking back, the industrial revolution of the late 18th and early 19th century marked a significant spike in child labor across Europe and North America. Starving and destitute families would send their children to work in factories and mines, where they were exposed to inhumane conditions and subjugated to grueling hours of labor. Consider this – in 1788, it was documented that two-thirds of the workers in the water-powered cotton mills were children.
The essence of the child labor problem completely contravenes the auspices of child rights as entrenched in documents like the **UN Convention on the Rights of the Child**. This international agreement ensures the right of children to protection from economic exploitation and harmful work. It also guarantees their right to education, recreation, and the highest standards of health. Yet these rights are systematically violated when children are subjected to labor.
This year, the International Labor Organization’s report paints an concerning picture. By the close of 2020, almost 9 million more children were pushed into child labor due to exacerbating factors such as conflicts, crises, and the COVID-19 pandemic. This recent surge threatens the years of progress made in reducing child labor and outlaws the notion that child labor is a problem confined to history.
Understanding child labor is a complex task. It requires an intricate examination of the parameters that promote its incubation, such as poverty, limited access to quality education, and weak legislative protection. Factors like family debt, cultural practices, and economic contingency play significant roles as well.
The path towards the elimination of child labor and the actualization of child rights is fraught with challenges. However, being aware of the issue by understanding its history, effects on child rights, and the ways it continues to persist is the first crucial step. Knowledge empowers us to take action, to raise our voices, and to incite significant change. For the future of our children, of our societies, and of our global community, this is a mission we must relentlessly pursue.
Definition and Historical Background of Child Labor
Child labor, a term that carries a heavy weight of societal burden and shame, remains a recurring theme in discussions around child rights. This multifaceted issue has a deep-rooted history that spans across centuries, and it is essential to understand its definition and historical context to fully grasp the enormity of this challenge.
According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), “child labor” is broadly described as “work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential, and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.” This includes work that interferes with their schooling, obliging them to abandon school prematurely, or necessitating an attempt to combine school attendance with excessively demanding work.
While the precise figure of children involved in labor worldwide is challenging to determine due to the clandestine nature of this issue, estimates suggest that nearly 152 million children aged five to seventeen are currently involved in child labor, with almost half of them engaged in hazardous work.
A glance into the historical background of child labor reveals its omnipresence in human society. Although it bears the stigma of an immoral practice in today’s world, it was a common and accepted occurrence across civilizations. In fact, the phenomenon of child labor can be traced back as far as Ancient Rome, where children were seen as a cheap and manageable workforce.
During the Industrial Revolution, beginning in the late 18th century, child labor was rampant as children were exposed to hazardous working conditions in factories. This era marked a significant turning point due to the evolution of regulatory laws that gradually started to recognize the rights of children, leading to a notable decrease in child labor.
However, while significant progress was made in the Western world, the practice of child labor unfortunately shifted to the developing and underprivileged countries, where it still persists to this day.
Understanding child labor in its historical context aids our sentience towards the importance of child rights. This information underscores two significant points: first, the universal persistence of child labor, and second, the shifting geographical prevalence of this exploitative practice.
Impacts of Child Labor on Child Rights
Child labor is indeed a pressing issue that continues to violate the rights of children worldwide. The impact of this enduring problem extends to the physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing of children.
Fundamentally, **child labor infringes on a child’s right to a safe and healthy childhood**. Children trapped in child labor are often responsible for tasks that are both dangerous and demanding. They work in hazardous conditions often compromised by inadequate safety measures, lack of hygiene, and exposure to harmful substances. This makes them vulnerable to physical illnesses and injuries. According to the International Labour Organization, an estimated 22,000 children lose their lives every year due to work-related accidents.
Aside from physical harm, the psychological impact of child labor can’t be understated. These children are burdened with the responsibility of adult work which is beyond their maturity level. They work under immense pressure, and the fear of punishments in the event of mistakes compounds the emotional strain. As a result, they experience anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues at a tender age.
Child labor not only **robs children of their childhood** but also hampers their right to education. Research indicates that children engaged in labor are more prone to drop out of school. Even if they manage to attend school, their ability to focus and learn is drastically reduced owing to fatigue and stress. This substantial education gap eventually widens the socio-economic divide, adding another layer to an already complex issue.
When children are unable to be children, overlapping and long-lasting impacts on their development emerge. Such repercussions are seen in both their communities and the societies they live in. “**Child labor, in essence, creates a ripple effect — its influence extends beyond the individual child, permeating the fabric of the community and society as a whole**,” says UNICEF in a report on child labor and its societal implications.
Understanding the intricate nature of this violation of child rights is vital for us as a global community. Examining its impacts allows us to realize the urgency for immediate and effective interventions against child labor. Igniting a dialogue about these issues is the first step to safeguard the rights of children and provide them the freedom, safety, and education they deserve.
Child Labor: Present Scenario
**The ominous shadow of child labor** relentlessly persists on the global stage, posing a serious challenge to child rights. Despite collective global strides towards progressive solutions, the International Labor Organization (ILO) reports that **152 million children worldwide** are statistically implicated in labor practices that infringe upon their fundamental rights. This staggering number indeed reflects the gruelling reality of the present situation.
Drilled down, the geographical dispersion of incidents presents itself with equal daunting severity. **Asia and the Pacific** region triumph in the most undesirable report, accommodating almost half – 73 million – of the global total. Followed closely, **Africa** resides home to 72 million, thus perpetrating a significant percentage of the unflattering statistic that is child labor. The Americas, Europe and Central Asia share the remainder, nevertheless enduring an unpleasant share of the burden.
Moreover, the ILO further breaks down these numbers into categories of hazardous employment and tasks that should be way beyond a child’s responsibility. With an involuntary enlistment of approximately **73 million children**, hazardous work undeniably stands as the biggest culprit. This category often robs these young souls of their joy, suckles at their innocence and compromises their education, thereby thwarting their possibility of a promising future.
Falling closely behind hazardous work is the agriculture sector which involuntarily employs almost **71% of the child laborer population.** These children are largely engaged in subsistence and commercial farming and livestock herding. Both highly laborious and gruelling, these tasks engulf the children in treacherous conditions, depriving them of the opportunity to acquire education and exacerbating their risk of physical and mental harm.
“He who sacrifices education for labor loses both and ends worse”, rightly proclaims former UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan. The vicious cycle of poverty has twinned itself with lack of education, further propelling the unfortunate trend of child labor. Trapped in these debilitating circumstances, **millions of children are denied the fundamental right to education.** A whopping 64 million girls and 88 million boys are out of school around the globe, elaborates a report by UNESCO.
This ghastly landscape painted by child labor is nothing short of disheartening. The stark realities presenting themselves in numerical form constitutes a factual testament reaffirming the urgent need for stringent and effective interventions. As disclosed by these daunting numbers, child labor is not just a grim reality but a fierce plague usurping the innocence, freedom and fundamental rights of children across the globe.
International Child Labor Statistics
In today’s interconnected world, the subject of child labor can no longer be relegated to isolated, developing countries; it’s an issue that ripples across borders, economies, and societies. According to estimates by the International Labour Organization (ILO), 152 million children across the world are entangled in child labor, a striking statistic that defies the values of human rights and the global effort towards ensuring the well-being of every child.
One cannot overlook the severity of the issue when examining these numbers. However, the complexities of child labor go beyond the sheer volume of impacted children. Breaking down the ILO statistics, we find that approximately half, 73 million of the child laborers are involved in hazardous work, that is to say, work that is threatening to their physical, mental, or emotional wellbeing. This challenging situation is an alarming declaration of how far we are drifting from the goal of upholding child rights.
Data from the World Bank also provides an unsettling image of the prevalence of child labor across geographical areas. In Sub-Saharan Africa, one in five children is involved in child labor, while in the Americas, the figure is one in twenty. This disparity indicates uneven progress across regions, thereby pointing to an urgent need for targeted, region-specific interventions.
Moreover, the shockwaves of child labor are most intensely felt in under-resourced communities. Poverty and lack of access to quality education have been identified as dominant driving forces of child labor. Children from the poorest households are up to four times more likely to be subjected to labor than those from wealthier households, according to figures released by UNICEF.
Repercussions of child labor stretch deep into a child’s life and society at large. A child stripped of their right to development, education, and a healthy environment is bound to become an adult held back in their potential, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and condoning the tradition of child exploitation.
While the statistics paint an undeniably grim picture, they also provide clarity on the evolution, spread, and concentrated areas of child labor. Armed with this knowledge, it becomes the joint responsibility of governments, non-governmental organizations, and individuals around the world to address this issue. Fostering awareness, inciting policy change, and providing resources to affected communities are some of the ways we can uphold child rights and eradicate child labor.
Regional Breakdown of Child Labor
Child labor, a deplorable manifestation of socio-economic inequalities, continues to be a significant global challenge. **In the context of regional distribution**, around the world, the instances differ significantly, reflecting the specific social, cultural, and economic settings of different areas.
Incredible as it may seem, **almost half of the world’s child laborers reside in Africa**. The Sub-Saharan Africa region is particularly riddled with this issue. According to the International Labor Organization’s 2020 statistics, around 72 million African children, or 19.4% of the total number of children, are engaged in labor that deprives them of their childhood, their potential, and their dignity.
Looking eastward, **Asia hosts the second-largest number of child laborers** in the world. Specially, South Asia is known for its carpet, silk and garment industries, notorious for child labor exploitation. More than 62 million children in this region are involved in labor, with a worrying prevalence in the informal sectors that often escape regulation.
Looking to the Americas, specifically Latin America and the Caribbean, they house approximately 10.5 million child laborers, a decline from previous years due to increased government interventions and industry regulations. However, the issue persists, primarily in agriculture and domestic work.
In Europe and Central Asia, despite promising strides made in legislation and initiatives over the past decades, the battle is far from won. Approximately 5.5 million children remain involved in child labor, with a notable fraction engaged in hazardous work.
Oceanic countries, comprising Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific islands, tackle a relatively lesser burden of child labor. However, where it exists, it is often tied to informal economic settings and kinship responsibilities.
These distinct regional portraits of child labor underline one universal truth: **No region is completely free from the plight of child labor**. Every area has its unique challenges and contributing factors, and thus requires tailored strategies for eradication, developed in collaboration with local communities.
“Cultural, economic, and legal measures should go hand in hand to eliminate child labor worldwide,” as noted by the United Nations Secretary-General. So, let these words reverberate as we endeavor to take on this vital global cause.
Efforts to Eradicate Child Labor
Child labor, an issue deeply rooted in societal structures, stands as a major barrier to the actualization of child rights, with an estimated 152 million children currently engaged in labor worldwide. An array of international organizations, national governments, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are working towards eradicating child labor.
The **International Labour Organization (ILO)** plays a pivotal role by formulating and implementing international labor standards aimed at combating child labor. The **ILO’s International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC)** focuses on strengthening country capacity to deal with child labor and on prioritizing child labor on national development agendas.
The **United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)** is a global advocate for children’s rights by collecting and publishing comprehensive data on child labor worldwide to heighten global awareness and inspire action to address this issue.
National governments like the **Government of India**, have enacted laws such as the Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act in 2016, which strictly prohibits the engagement of children in all occupations and adolescents in hazardous occupations.
**Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are indispensable**, working directly in local communities afflicted by the issue of child labor. They support the implementation of child labor policies at a grassroots level and extend immediate assistance to rescued child laborers. An organization called **”GoodWeave International”** strives to end child labor in global supply chains through a combination of certification, capacity building, and direct remediation programs.
The problem of child labor requires relentless efforts, continuous vigilance, and robust collaboration from all stakeholders including international bodies, national governments, and NGOs. Prioritizing children’s rights and ensuring that every child is free to enjoy their childhood, pursue education, and realize their full potential in a safe and nurturing environment is crucial.
Role of International Organizations
International organizations, including the United Nations (UN), UNICEF, and the International Labor Organization (ILO), have been at the forefront in the battle against child labor. Their role is indispensable in addressing this growing issue that threatens the fundamental rights of millions of children worldwide.
To start with, the **United Nations** has been instrumental in the fight against child labor. The UN has adopted various conventions and resolutions that specifically address the plight of child laborers. Article 32 of the **UN Convention on the Rights of the Child** explicitly prohibits child labor, stating, “States Parties recognize the right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child’s education, or to be harmful to the child’s health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral, or social development.”
Another major player in this arena is **UNICEF**. This esteemed organization has been developing and implementing programs to combat child labor, focusing primarily on the most marginalized children who are often overlooked due to their social or economic status. UNICEF’s comprehensive approach includes raising community awareness about the hazards of child labor, advocating for child labor laws, improving access to quality education, and enhancing social protection programs that target vulnerable children.
Similarly, the **ILO** has been consistently and proactively working to eradicate child labor through its International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC). IPEC provides technical assistance and financial support to countries to help them develop and implement national action plans to combat child labor. Significantly, in 1999 the ILO introduced **Convention No. 182**, which lists the worst forms of child labor that must be prohibited and eliminated.
While their efforts to confront this ongoing challenge are commendable, these international organizations alone cannot demolish the stronghold of child labor. Partnerships with governments, civil society organizations, and communities are critical to ensuring the safety, education, and wellbeing of every child.
Government Policies and Initiatives
Over the years, the global community has recognized **Child Labor** as a pervasive challenge threatening the very essence of child rights. The exploitation of children in various forms of labor is not a localized problem. Instead, it has vast reach, hovering over a considerable proportion of countries around the world. As such, it becomes imperative to acknowledge the positive strides made by various governments in the form of policies and initiatives to alleviate this critical issue.
Addressing child labor consistently makes it to the forefront of agendas in **national policies**. Governments are continuously refining strategic approaches and implementing laws that protect children, enforcing basic human rights to ensure that every child gets access to quality education, adequate nutrition, and a chance to enjoy their childhood.
For instance, the Indian government implemented the **”Child Labor Prohibition and Regulation Act”** in 1986, enhanced in 2016, which outrightly bans the employment of children below 14 years of age. Also, the Indian constitution makes education a fundamental right of every child through the **Right to Education Act**.
On the African front, countries like Ghana have made significant headway with initiatives such as the **’Hazardous Child Labor Activity Framework’** that identifies and profiles hazardous activities children should never be engaged in.
Similarly, developed nations like the US and most European countries, have laws strictly regulating or banning child labor. The **Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)** in the United States sets standards for youth employment, including the permissible work age and hours.
These examples are just a tip of the iceberg when discussing the measures that countries are instituting to combat child labor. However, it’s essential to note that these policies and acts are just the first step towards an uphill battle that needs strategic implementation, proper monitoring, and choking of the roots feeding this menace.
**Initiatives in education and skill development** have also garnered attention in the fight against child labor. In many instances, poverty and lack of access to quality education are key drivers that force children into labor. Governments, along with non-governmental organizations, are working towards eradicating these socio-economic problems by offering free education, vocational training, and financial aid to underprivileged families.
The **Tanzanian Child Labor Elimination Actions (CLEA)** program stands out as an innovative community-based approach that offers alternative income-generating opportunities to parents in exchange for keeping their children out of labor. Similar efforts are afoot in many parts of the world.
Aligning with the famous saying by Kailash Satyarthi, **”Childhood means simplicity. Look at the world with the child’s eye – it is very beautiful.”** It’s time to guarantee that no child is deprived of the joy and simplicity of their childhood. It is not just an obligation but a moral duty of every adult, community, and government to secure for children the future they truly deserve.
NGOs and Child labor
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), both domestic and international, play an irreplaceable role in the ongoing battle against child labor, a serious blight on child rights. These organizations, undeterred by political boundaries or bureaucratic red tape, tirelessly work towards sustainable solutions. They not only actively raise awareness about this issue, but they also advocate for changes in policies, implement programs, and offer supportive services to the affected children and their families.
**Campaigning and Awareness Building** is a crucial part of NGOs’ work against child labor. They engineer large-scale campaigns to educate the public on the harmful effects of child labor on the physical, mental and emotional health of children. Regular workshops and seminars are conducted, pamphlets are distributed, and street plays are organized to reach out to the masses. They focus on the importance of education and the essential conditions for the all-around development of a child.
NGOs also play a vital part in **Policy Advocacy**. They lobby with the government to bring about changes in the existing child labor laws, pushing for stricter penalties for offenders and comprehensive support for victims. They offer their expert views, backed by extensive ground-level research, to influence policymakers into framing laws that prioritize children’s rights.
One more important role of NGOs is **Program Implementation**. They launch various programs to rehabilitate child laborers, such as bridge courses to prepare these children for formal education and vocational training for older kids. These programs not only aim at equipping the children with necessary skills but also at boosting their confidence levels and contributing to their emotional healing.
Moreover, NGOs provide **Supportive Services** to child laborers and their families. They offer comprehensive support, from counseling services to monetary aid. NGOs play a significant role in offering access to quality education, nutritional meals, medical aid, and psychological support to the child laborers. They also assist the families of these children by offering skill development programs, helping them secure a sustainable income source.
The persistent challenge of child labor can only be overcome when we stand together, as a community, backed by effective and committed organizations like these, honoring and protecting the rights of every child.
Successful NGO Initiatives
In recent years, a number of NGO-led initiatives have taken center stage in the fight against child labor, demonstrating the power of community involvement and collective action in combating such a deeply rooted issue. Notable successes can be attributed to both local and international non-profit organizations, which have devised strategic, innovative, and resourceful methods to challenge this ongoing violation of child rights.
Among the standout entities, **Save the Children** has a significant impact, supporting legislative improvements in over 87 countries to better protect children from exploitative labor. By advocating for robust child labor laws and ensuring their enforcement, they have created a safer environment for countless children globally. They provide education and vocational training to empower youth and inhibit the cycle of child labor from continuing into future generations.
Similarly, **GoodWeave International** has a unique approach. It not only rescues child laborers but also prevents child labor in the carpet-making industry through consumer awareness and market-driven programs. Their certification program for child labor-free carpets has proven effective, leading to a reduction in child labor in India, Nepal, and Afghanistan’s carpet industries by approximately 80%.
Further, **SOS Children’s Villages** has been instrumental in providing care and support to children who have been victims of forced labor. By offering innovative programs tailored to the specific needs of each community, they aim to combat child labor from multiple angles.
The **Global March Against Child Labor’s** model of coalition-based activism is also noteworthy. This grassroots movement has united individuals and organizations worldwide, amplifying their collective voice against child labor. This unity has led to significant legal and social reform in various nations, reinforcing child rights on a substantial scale.
Closer home, **Bachpan Bachao Andolan** in India has been safeguarding the rights of thousands of children, rescuing them from hazardous labor and facilitating access to quality education.
Challenges Faced by NGOs
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) committed to the protection of child rights and the eradication of child labor continue to brave especially turbulent waters. The struggle to protect the young and innocent’s rights from monetary exploitation and harsh labor conditions is constantly marked by a series of challenges that act as stumbling stones.
**Resource constraints** act as the primary concern. NGOs are frequently underfunded and overburdened, often juggling multiple projects across wide geographical areas. The insufficient financial backing and manpower limit their scope of work and the number of children they can reach. This traveling uphill struggle translates into prolonged periods of child labor and increased susceptibility to physical and mental trauma among affected children.
Many NGOs also face **complex legislative landscapes**. In several parts of the world, child labor is still considered a societal norm. There is no denying the vicious cycle at play; poverty leads to child labor, which then stops these children from receiving an education and breaking free from this detrimental cycle. Laws might be in existence, but lax enforcement and a lack of disciplinary resources prevent them from taking root, providing a loophole for such abusive practices to persist.
Additionally, **the non-cooperation of families and local communities** presents another barrier. In many low-income families, children’s earnings are crucial for survival. It’s a harsh reality that compels parents to prioritize short-term survival over long-term wellbeing. NGOs’ pursuits to end child labor face a counter-current of beliefs deeply embedded in families and community structures that seemingly justifies child labor.
Moreover, the **lack of quality education and infrastructural facilities** constitutes a significant challenge. It is one thing to rescue children from the shackles of labor and another entirely to ensure they don’t fall back into the trap. The limited access to quality education, combined with insufficient vocational training, makes this task paramount, yet daunting.
Lastly, **the issue of child trafficking and illegal child labor** is a particularly dark aspect of this problem. An invisible thread links child labor, trafficking, and illegal activities. The veiling of such activities often blindsides legislative policies and NGOs, making it significantly harder to follow, track, and eliminate such instances.
To address these challenges, NGOs require collaborative efforts from global bodies, local governments, and community leaders. They need substantial support, whether it’s in the form of increased funding, capacity building, legal aid, or advocacy. Only through such collective intervention can progress be made toward eradicating child labor and protecting the fundamental rights of every child. It is a daunting task, yet one that society ought to undertake to empower our future generations.
FAQs: Child Labor and Child Rights
**Child labor represents one of the major challenges to child rights** across the globe. Despite numerous strides made in our society, child labor remains a deeply entrenched issue, stifling the potential of our children. Renowned rights activist Kailash Satyarthi once said, **”Childhood means simplicity. Look at the world with the child’s eye — it is very beautiful.”** However, this simplicity is often disfigured by the grim shadows of child labor.
Children are the future of any society and it is the responsibility of every community to ensure that they grow in a conducive environment that fosters their overall development. Unfortunately, countless children are still subjected to work under harsh conditions globally, making them passive victims of child labor. The International Labour Organization estimates that “152 million children – 64 million girls and 88 million boys – are in child labor globally, accounting for almost one in ten of all children worldwide.” **The scale of the problem is both staggering and heartbreaking.**
Now, one might wonder, what exactly is child labor? This term typically refers to work that deprives children of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and is mentally, physically, socially, or morally dangerous and harmful. Simply put, child labor is an act that hampers a child’s growth and education.
Having clarified the term, the logical question that follows is: why is child labor a persistent challenge? There are many contributing factors. **Poverty and lack of social security are the main causes of child labor.** The high level of unemployment and the pervasive low income of many families push children into labor to augment the family’s financial position.
The detrimental effects of child labor cannot be overemphasized. When children are forced into labor, they are denied their basic rights to education, free time, and wholesome childhood experiences. In the long run, it precludes their chances of leading healthy and productive adult lives. **It’s a vicious cycle where uneducated children grow up to be unskilled adults who have limited job opportunities, which further perpetuates the cycle of poverty.**
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child emphasizes the need for children to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is hazardous or interferes with their education. In line with this, international and local laws have been enacted to combat child labor and ensure every child has access to education and a safe environment.
However, the bitter truth remains that laws alone are not enough. Community support, improved living standards, and access to quality education for every child are paramount to achieving this goal.
This leads us to the final, and perhaps the most important question: **How can we, as a community, help?** Each of us can participate in the fight against child labor in our own small ways. Whether it is being informed and spreading awareness, supporting non-governmental organizations that help rescue children from child labor, or advocating for stronger policies that combat poverty and promote education.
Remember, every child holds infinite potential. Let’s pledge to never let that light be dimmed by the cruelties of child labor. The dream of a world free of child labor is one we should all aspire to realize.
The illuminating words of Neil Postman state: **”Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.”** Let’s raise our voices, take action, and ensure that the message we send to the future is one of hope, progress, and justice.