Commemoration of the World Day Against Child Labour in Uganda

Govt of Uganda reiterates joint efforts critical in combating child labour

The Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) took the lead in organizing the celebrations of the WDACL 2017 In Uganda.A national organizing Committee chaired by the MGLSD planned for this year’s WDACL.

An interactive press conference organized by the MGLSD was held on 12th June as part of the activities to commemorate the WDACL 2017. Newspaper supplements by different stakeholders on the theme for the Day featured in the New Vision and The Monitor of 12th June.

Radio and talk shows; focusing on the theme for the WDACL 2017, were held at both national and district levels.

Information Education and Communication Materials; T-shirts, posters, brochures, and banners focusing on the WDACL 2017 were printed locally bearing messages on the theme for the WDACL 2017, in English and 2 local languages and disseminated.

The Main celebration; to crown it all, the main celebrations was held in Kampala District on 15th June
in the city centre and marching to the venue. The procession was flagged off by the 2017. The celebration began with the public assembling at (MGLSD) offices Ag. Director for Labour, and was led by a children’s brass band  that played the National and East African Anthems at the beginning and at the end of the main event.

Activities at the main celebrations included the following;

Exhibition; key stakeholders in elimination of child labour and child protection in Uganda participated in the exhibition to show all kinds of materials produced on child labour issues.

Presentation by children; children performed and presented songs and dances(modern and traditional), skits, poems songs and plays conveying messages on child labour centred on the theme of the WDACL 2017. The performances were mostly done by former child labourers who also gave testimonies.

Speeches centred on the theme for the day were made by the ILO Constituents and the ILO.  
 

Speech by the Minister for youth and children affairs

Speech by the Chief Guest, Honourable Minister of Gender Labour and Social Development, represented by the State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Hon. Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi  

The Hon. Minister toured the exhibition stalls before she made her speech. In her speech she stated that the purpose of celebrating the WDACL is to raise both public and political awareness and build support for efforts to tackle the scourge of child labour.

 

She noted that Child labour deprives children of their right to education and is harmful to their physical, moral and mental development. She expressed great concern about children who are denied their childhood and a future, children who work; at too young an age, long hours for low wages, separated from their families, and deprived of education. This she said can create irreversible damage to the child and is a violation of international law and national legislation.

 
She said conflicts and Disasters have devastating impact on children’s lives because they kill, maim, injure and force them to flee their homes, destroy their livelihoods, and trap them in situations where their basic human rights are violated.

 

She re-affirmed the commitment of the Government of Uganda to the elimination of child labour demonstrated through ratification of International Labour Conventions on child labour which have been domesticated into national laws and legislation, namely; the Employment Act 2006, the Employment (Employment of Children) Regulations 2012, The Children Amendment Act 2016, the National Action Plan on elimination of worst forms of child labour.

 

The Hon. Minister emphasised that Child labour elimination should be treated as a priority intervention in all sectors of the economy.  She called for working together to intensify and accelerate action to end child labour by 2025 with special attention in areas affected by conflict and disasters. 

 

She concluded her statement with a call for among others;

  • Enforcement, review and enactment of relevant laws, policies and regulations to eliminate worst forms of child labour,
  • Stronger integration and early addressing of child labour in humanitarian responses; upholding the human rights of refugees and displaced children to be protected from child labour and trafficking.
  • Strengthening collaborative efforts and advocacy through social dialogue to end the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict.
  • Safety of schools by promoting adequate and user friendly educational infrastructure to protect children from dropping out of school.
  • Building capacity of all the key actors so as to implement strategies and plans developed for elimination of the worst forms of child labour in the country.
Speech by the Director ILO CO Dar es Salaam

 

Ms Jacqueline Banya (National Programme Officer), representing the ILO Director CO Dar-es Salaam, stressed that the World Day against Child (WDACL) 2017 brings to light the devastating impact that conflicts and disasters have on people’s lives and on children in particular because children are often the first to suffer and many of them are particularly vulnerable to trafficking and child labour. She observed that Uganda has experienced both disasters and conflict in recent times, making the World Day theme all the more important to draw attention to. She quoted the statistics from The National Labour Force and Child Activities Survey 2011/12 which indicates 2 million children aged 5-17 years were in child labour (approximately 16% of the total children) and 25% of these were in hazardous work. Children’s work was overwhelming in the primary sector (agriculture, forestry and fishing). 

 

She concluded by stressing the need to address child labour seriously and to take action against the grave situation as part of society.

 

Conclusion:

The commemoration of the WDACL 2017 has no doubt contributed to creating Public awareness on child labour,

Several stakeholders participated and contributed to the memorable commemoration of the WDACL 2017 in Uganda; Uganda Police, Uganda National Teachers Union, Somero Uganda, Uganda Youth Development Link, Uganda Women’s Efforts to Save Orphans, Platform for Labour Action, PREFA, ANPPCAN Uganda Chapter, World Education Bantwana, National Organisation of Trade Unions(NOTU), Federation of Uganda Employers (FUE), Central Organisation of Free Trade Unions (COFTU),  Ministry of Education and Sports( MoES).