The ILO, together with its implementing partners Al-Tahreer Association for Development and Kurdistan Save the Children, is working closely with key partners in Iraq to raise their awareness and build their capacity in addressing the worst forms of child labour in the country.

Part of these efforts have been a series of workshops conducted under the ILO’s project “Tackling the worst forms of child labour amongst IDPs, refugees, and vulnerable host communities in Iraq” which is supported by the European Regional Development and Protection Programme for Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq (RDPP II)  – a joint European initiative by the Czech Republic, Denmark, the European Union, Ireland and Switzerland.

26 and 27 September, 2021

A two-day workshop in Erbil introduced officials from various authorities, on methods and strategies aimed at addressing child labour. The training, which was implemented in collaboration with Al-Tahreer Association for Development in September, brought together representatives from the Directorate of Education of Ninewa Governorate; the Directorate of Labour and Social Affairs; the community police; the Authority for People with Disabilities in the Governorate of Ninewa and Kurdistan Save the Children.

The training shed light on the legal frameworks governing child labour with a focus on the Worst Forms of Child Labour. It also explored the causes and consequence of child labour in Iraq and on-going efforts to address these issues and protect children in the country.

19 October, 2021

More recently, together with Kurdistan Save the Children, the project held an awareness raising session for 20 teachers from Akre, located in the Duhok Governorate, to increase their awareness on the critical issue of child labour. The session introduced teachers to child labour and national legislation related to working children. The aim of the session was to encourage more teachers to raise awareness among students on the dangers of children labour, and tackle the issue on the local community level.