Amid growing concerns over the impact of the economic downturn, the International Labour Office (ILO) has warned that efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labour are slowing down and called for a “re-energized” global campaign to end the practice.
In its Global Report on child labour, the ILO has said that the global number of child labourers had declined from 222 million to 215 million, or 3 per cent, over the period 2004 to 2008, representing a “slowing down of the global pace of reduction.” The report also expressed concern that the global economic crisis could “further brake” progress toward the goal of eliminating the worst forms of child labour by 2016.
The new ILO global report, entitled Accelerating action against child labour, presents detailed estimates. Progress was greatest among children aged 5-14, where the number of child labourers fell by 10 per cent. Child labour among girls decreased by 15 per cent. However, it increased among boys (by 8 million or 7 per cent). What’s more, child labour among young people aged 15 to 17 increased by 20 per cent, from 52 million to 62 million.
Further to the discussion of the Global Report at the International Labour Conference in June, the Governing Body in November 2010 endorsed the Global Plan of Action for achieving the elimination of the worst forms of child labour by 2016 - the ambitious goal that was originally suggested by the 2006 Global Report on child labour. The 2010 Global Action Plan provides a strategic agenda and action plan for the ILO, and in particular IPEC, in the years ahead towards 2016. It specifically refers to and incorporates the Roadmap adopted by The Hague Global Child Labour Conference held in May 2010.
No to child labour
in domestic work!
...end child labour!
International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC)
News
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© Romeo Gacad / AFP 2013 -
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© S.Sekhri / The Times Of India 2013Ten million child labourers in domestic work
12 June 2013
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Events
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TACKLE end of project global stakeholders workshop
2 - 3 July 2013, Brussels
'TACKLE', Tackling child labour through education, is a joint project of the European Commission and the ILO with the support of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP). Launched in 2008, TACKLE aims at fighting child labour in 12 countries. An end of project global workshop takes place in Brussels on 2 and 3 July 2013.
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Panel discussion on child labour and domestic work
12 June 2013, 809 UN Plaza, 12th floor, New York
This panel discussion will launch a new ILO report on child domestic work and highlight progress made since the ILO Domestic Workers Convention.
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Exhibition "The ILO's fight against child labour: Dreaming of Freedom"
5 - 21 June 2013, ILO Colonnades, Geneva
The ILO's fight against child labour: Dreaming of Freedom" is the title of a new exhibition that was launched at the ILO Headquarters in Geneva in view of the 2013 World Day Against Child Labour.
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IV International Convention against Child Labour
21 March 2013, Ciudad de México, Hilton Mexico City Reforma, 8:00 am
The main objective of the event is to assist the 2013 Global Child Labour Conference with the support of the work coming from Latin America in the elimination of child labour. To help achieve the overall goal of elimination of the worst forms of child labour by 2016, the event will help analyze overall progress and identify remaining challenges.
Just released
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Ending child labour in domestic work and protecting young workers from abusive working conditions
12 June 2013
New report on domestic work within the framework of the two ILO fundamental conventions on child labour and the recently adopted instruments on decent work for domestic workers.
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Music against child labour Initiative
11 June 2013
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Annual Report 2013: IPEC action against child labour: Highlights 2012
21 May 2013
This report highlights the main achievements and developments of the ILO’s International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour in 2012. As 2012 marked the twentieth anniversary of IPEC, the report also reflects on IPEC’s evolution, achievements and impact and considers the role the Programme should adopt to continue and intensify the fight against child labour in the coming years.
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Child Labour Handbook for Professionals
30 April 2013
The purpose of the handbook is to provide guidelines for professionals who may/will encounter instances of child labour in the course of their work. Against the background of law, international convention and research findings, the handbook is intended to assist with prioritizing and taking effective action to address child labour situations, always conducting such activities in the best interest of the children.
Highlights
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Conference
The Hague Global Child Labour Conference - Towards a world without child labour - Mapping the road to 2016
10-11 mai 2010
(10-11 May 2010, The Hague, The Netherlands)The year 2010 is 10 years after the coming into force of ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour (WFCL), the most widely-ratified international labour convention, and it is 6 years ahead of the global target of eliminating the WFCL. While the global movement has achieved much progress in reducing the incidence of child labour, efforts must be stepped up if we are to deliver the commitment of a world free of the worst forms of child labour by 2016. In order to meet that challenge, the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, in close collaboration with the ILO (and in cooperation with UNICEF and the World Bank), is organizing a global conference on child labour to be held in The Hague (The Netherlands) on 10 and 11 May 2010.
