Launching of the preparations for the IV Global Conference on Child Labour 2017

Argentina Minister of Labour, Carlos Tomada, alongside the President of the National Commission to Eradicate Child Labour (CONAETI), María del Pilar Rey Méndez, headed the launching of the preparatory events for the IV Global Conference on Child Labour 2017 which will be held in Argentina.

News | 19 December 2014
BUENOS AIRES – Argentina Minister of Labour, Carlos Tomada, alongside the president of the National Commission to Eradicate Child Labour (CONAETI), María del Pilar Rey Méndez, headed the launching of the preparatory events for the “IV Global Conference on Child Labour – 2017” which will be held in Argentina.
“Argentina is an example across the world in the fight against child labour because of the achievements over all these years, and that recognition is mainly due to the work done by the CONAETI”, Carlos Tomada.

Tomada also emphasized the “commitment of the companies in the fight against child labour.” “The most important process of social inclusion over the past 50 years in Argentina is taking place. That is the reason why child labour is diminishing,” the Minister finally said.

Moreover, Pilar Rey Méndez spoke about the designation of Argentina as the organizing seat of the IV Global Conference in 2017 and explained that “this has to do with a worldwide recognition to the public policies our country has been carrying on. This is also a challenge and a very important commitment for all of us.”

In turn, Fabio Bertranou, ILO Office Director in Argentina, held that “we are very proud to see that a priority area of decent work is bearing fruit.” Furthermore, Guillermo Dema, ILO regional specialist in child labour and youth employment in Latin America and the Caribbean, said that “all the countries look at Argentina when they talk about child labour. For that reason the ILO will continue accompanying all the efforts they have been making so far.”

Argentina was designated as the organizer of the “IV Global Conference on Child Labour - 2017” by the representatives of governments and employers’ and workers’ organizations which participated last year in the III Global Conference on Child Labour in Brasilia, due to its strong commitment and innovation leading public policies in the field of prevention and eradication of child labour and protection of adolescent labour, and its active participation in the regional bodies such as the MERCOSUR and the Regional Initiative “Latin America and the Caribbean Free of Child Labour.”

Actions planned for the preparation of the next Global Conference include the scheduled MERCOSUR Seminar on Education and Child Labour, the 3rd Regional MERCOSUR Conference, and the Regional MERCOSUR Meeting among government, companies and trade unions to be held in the City of Buenos Aires by the end of April 2015.

Along with this presentation, the head of the labour portfolio disseminated the “Statement to Constitute the Regional Initiative Latin America and the Caribbean Free of Child Labour,” created during the 18th International Labour Organization Regional American Meeting which was held in Lima, Peru, last October 14th. This initiative involves the commitment of the countries in the region to accelerate the goals agreed on to eradicate child labour. It also establishes a series of commitments based on the strengthening of inter-governmental cooperation.

The meeting was also attended by Marisa Graham, under-secretary of Rights for the Childhood, Adolescence and Family, Ministry of Social Development; representatives of the trade union and the corporate sectors, authorities from UNICEF and provincial and municipal officials.
 


This article has been published by the Ministerio de Trabajo, Empleo y Seguridad Social de la República Argentina and it is accesible at Gacetillas y noticias del MTEySS.