Building a more effective response to forced and child labour through Alliance 8.7
The ILO convened a meeting of technical experts to measure forced labour.
BANGKOK – In response to the need for reliable estimates to combat forced commercial sexual exploitation and forced labour, the ILO convened a two and half-day meeting of technical experts on measuring these human rights violations through the development of quality surveys and data collection.
This expert group meeting was part of follow-up work to a Resolution adopted at the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS), recommending “that the Office set up a working group with the aim of sharing best practices on forced labour surveys in order to encourage further such surveys in more countries.”
The preliminary results of the meeting were presented at the conclusion of the experts’ meeting to UN agencies, NGOs, private sector, workers representatives, Diplomatic missions and Government partners based in Thailand who share a vision of a world free of child labour, forced labour, slavery and human trafficking.
In his statement to participants, the ILO’s Deputy Regional Director, David Lamotte, said “Measuring the extent of forced labour and child labour is essential to not only monitor trends but to also better inform policy and practice for all UN member states, and in particular within the context of the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Lamotte added “This effort to achieve standardised global measurement on forced labour is laudable. It is essential that we are coherent in how we define and measure to inform our individual and joint advocacy and other efforts.”
The eradication of the insidious practices of forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking, and child labour is included in Target 8.7 of the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which calls on governments to "Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms”.
As part of wider efforts to combat these issues, the ILO, UNICEF, IOM, other UN agencies, businesses, trade unions and civil society established Alliance 8.7, a global partnership of stakeholders committed to achieving Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.7 through the alignment of efforts.
The Alliance will focus on accelerating timelines, sharing knowledge, driving innovation and leveraging resources to achieve Target 8.7.
The meeting provided an opportunity for Alliance 8.7 partners to meet and share valuable feedback and provide input for the process of sharing information and experiences.
The outcome of these meetings will also help better inform global discourse and will be a welcome contribution to the Global Conference on Child Labour and forced labour in 2017 hosted by Argentina.
This expert group meeting was part of follow-up work to a Resolution adopted at the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS), recommending “that the Office set up a working group with the aim of sharing best practices on forced labour surveys in order to encourage further such surveys in more countries.”
The preliminary results of the meeting were presented at the conclusion of the experts’ meeting to UN agencies, NGOs, private sector, workers representatives, Diplomatic missions and Government partners based in Thailand who share a vision of a world free of child labour, forced labour, slavery and human trafficking.
In his statement to participants, the ILO’s Deputy Regional Director, David Lamotte, said “Measuring the extent of forced labour and child labour is essential to not only monitor trends but to also better inform policy and practice for all UN member states, and in particular within the context of the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Lamotte added “This effort to achieve standardised global measurement on forced labour is laudable. It is essential that we are coherent in how we define and measure to inform our individual and joint advocacy and other efforts.”
The eradication of the insidious practices of forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking, and child labour is included in Target 8.7 of the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which calls on governments to "Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms”.
As part of wider efforts to combat these issues, the ILO, UNICEF, IOM, other UN agencies, businesses, trade unions and civil society established Alliance 8.7, a global partnership of stakeholders committed to achieving Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.7 through the alignment of efforts.
The Alliance will focus on accelerating timelines, sharing knowledge, driving innovation and leveraging resources to achieve Target 8.7.
The meeting provided an opportunity for Alliance 8.7 partners to meet and share valuable feedback and provide input for the process of sharing information and experiences.
The outcome of these meetings will also help better inform global discourse and will be a welcome contribution to the Global Conference on Child Labour and forced labour in 2017 hosted by Argentina.