Tuesday 4 September 2001
TOKYO (ILO News) - A ten-day intensive event for raising public awareness on child labour problems starts on 4 September in Tokyo. The first ILO exhibition on child labour opens at the UN Gallery in the UN House depicting the miseries of child labour, and the actions ILO has been taking to address this crucial issue. It is organized in conjunction with Japan's ratification of the ILO Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) on 18 June this year, and a public forum on child labour is to be held on 7 September. The exhibition portrays the miseries of child labour through some 80 photos. Materials and brochures detailing ILO activities and NGO efforts are available for the public. A wall-size map charting working children statistics around the world is also on display.
"Tens of millions of children endure the worst forms of child labour. We must do better for them. Put a stop to it - it is the responsibility of adults." The ILO Director-General Juan Somavia says in his message: "Our International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) carries on the struggle with partners in over 70 countries. We have a long way to go but each of you can help to make it happen. If we advocate and network and pool our energy we can do it." Brief, yet powerful messages have been received by all officials and administrators from three ILO constituents.
Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Chikara Sakaguchi states, "Ratification of ILO Convention No. 182 last June shows Japan's positive commitment to ILO's core labour standards. This has also given us a sense of great achievement." And he expresses his sincerest desire that ILO should strengthen its efforts to eliminate child labour problems.
President of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC-RENGO) Etsuya Washio sends his message: "I firmly believe that child labour will never end so long as economic development and the fair distribution of wealth continue to prevent the eradication of poverty. We cannot stand idle. We must provide all the substantial support that we can in eliminating child labour. Making educational training free of charge, establishing scholarship systems, and providing children with free breakfasts and lunches at school are all essential."
Hiroshi Okuda, Chairperson, Japan Federation of Employers' Associations (NIKKEIREN) says in his message that from the business standpoint, child labour will cause a paucity of much-needed talent - a result to be avoided at all costs. And he expresses his commitment, saying that Japanese employers will make every effort possible to promote replication of excellent practices of companies at the international level in this endeavour.
Mayumi Moriyama, Minister of Justice and Chairperson of Japanese Parliamentarians' League on the ILO Activities, says in her message "Undoubtedly, children who are forced to work are victims of poverty, and of commercial and sexual exploitation. We are all striving to eliminate the worst forms of child labour, the aim of the new ILO Convention. As such, we are working toward the greater realization of a humane society. I believe that the efforts of every individual will be what moves the mountain".
Makiko Arima, Personal Representative of Japan's Prime Minister to UN General Assembly Special Session on Children, states: "The world should be a place where children are not forced to work or drafted into armies, a place where they are not abused. What we must do now is to translate these principles embodied in Conventions into reality".
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All these messages are put on panel boards at the entrance of the UN Gallery. A public forum on child labour will be held jointly by the ILO Tokyo Branch Office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 7 September at the U Thant International Conference Hall of the United Nations University Building. Mayumi Moriyama, Minister of Justice will give an opening address at the forum, which will stress the nature of this issue not only as international one but also a domestic problem. ILO Director-General Somavia's video message will be shown at the opening. Kailash Satyarthi, Chairperson for the Global March Against Child Labour, will make a special address. A number of Japanese NGOs will also be participating in the forum debate.