BANGKOK (ILO News) – The annual World Day Against Child Labour on 12 June will be marked by events in Bangkok, Tak and Pattani. Activities include panel discussions, concerts, parades, contests and performances by students.

In Bangkok, activities will be held on Friday 12 June at Kasetsart University. Mr Guy Thijs, Deputy Regional Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO), will deliver a keynote address on “10 years of the ILO Convention 182 and World Day against Child Labour: Giving children a chance.” Dr. Kothom Areeya, human rights advocate, will speak about “Promoting Peaceful Co-existence for All Children: Stop Nurturing Violence.” Later in the afternoon there will be a concert for migrant and vulnerable children, with Su Boonlieng, Kati Kala and other singers. The event is organized by the Foundation for Child Development.

In Tak Province on 12 June, events will take place at the Mae Sot Trade and Conference Center from 08.00-16.30 hours. Mr Kittisak Tomornsak, Mae Sot District Chief, will preside over the opening. Students will parade from the Mae Sot sports arena to the Conference Center. Local officials from the immigration office, police, district education office, business owners and school children will participate. The event is organized by the Tak Educational Service Area 2 Office and the Mae Sot Civil Society.

In Pattani on Thursday 18 June, there will be a march against child labour from the City Hall to the fishing boat pier, starting at 7.30 hours. Throughout the day activities will be held at the fishing boat pier. Governor Threerathep Sriyapun will preside over the opening. There will be music, dances and performances by school children, with messages on child labour and occupational safety and health. The event is organized by the Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand (PPAT) and the Provincial Women and Child Labour Assistance Center.

This year’s World Day also marks the tenth anniversary of the adoption of ILO Convention No. 182 on the elimination of the worst forms of child labour. An exceptionally rapid ratification rate - in Asia and the Pacific only a handful of countries still have to ratify - has brought this Convention very close to universal ratification.

Thailand ratified Convention 182 in 2001. Honouring this commitment, Thailand recently launched the National Policy and Plan to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 2009-2014. This national framework covers strategies to prevent, protect, assist and rescue all children in Thailand whom are vulnerable to becoming child labourers in its worst forms.

The ILO will also release a new report entitled "Give Girls a Chance: Tackling child labour, a key to the future". The report will provide the latest estimates on the number of girls in child labour and detail the exploitative forms of child labour facing them. As well as highlighting the exploitation of girls in child labour it warns that the crisis could force more girls out of education and into child labour.

Elsewhere in Asia and the Pacific, World Day will be marked with a wide range of events, including an adolescents’ convention, a marathon run, special TV programmes, competitions and an SMS and Facebook awareness campaign. Throughout the world events in more than 50 countries will bring together governments, employers, workers, UN bodies and non-governmental organiztions.