IPEC At A Glance

IPEC’s aim is the progressive elimination of child labour worldwide, with the eradication of the worst forms an urgent priority. Since it began operations in 1992, IPEC has worked to achieve this in several ways: through country-based and regional programmes which promote policy reform, building institutional capacity putting in place concrete measures to end child labour; and through awareness raising and mobilization intended to change social attitudes and promote ratification and effective implementation of ILO Child Labour Conventions. These efforts have resulted in hundreds of thousands of children being withdrawn from work and rehabilitated or prevented from entering the workforce. Complementary to this direct action throughout has been substantial in-depth statistical and qualitative research, policy and legal analysis, programme evaluation and child labour monitoring, which have permitted the accumulation of a vast knowledge base of statistical data and methodologies, thematic studies, good practices, guidelines and training materials.

From an initial six countries in 1992, IPEC in 2003 has activities in over 80 ILO member States. Donor support in the beginning was provided by only one country, Germany. In 2003 there are 30 donors, including several employers’ and workers’ organizations and municipalities. IPEC has dramatically improved its ability to quickly and effectively move projects from the planning stages through implementation.