Myanmar: Artists and stakeholders join the World Day Against Child Labour 2016
This year, the country celebrated the World Day Against Child Labour for the 3rd time. Events were organized in different part of the country with the support of the ILO and in partnership with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, the Confederation of Trade Unions in Myanmar, Ratana Metta Organization, Sympathy Hands and Jeepyah Civil Society Development Organization.
In Myanmar, recent studies on child labour shows that about 1 out of 10 children are into child labour, with more than half of them in hazardous work.
This year, the country celebrated the World Day Against Child Labour for the 3rd time. Events were organized in different part of the country (Yangon, Ayeyarwady, Bago, Mon State) with the support of ILO Myanmar Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (MyPEC) and in partnership with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, the Confederation of Trade Unions in Myanmar, Ratana Metta Organization, Sympathy Hands and Jeepyah Civil Society Development Organization.
Participants included representatives from the government, Workers’ and Employers’ groups, civil society organizations, township and village authorities, parents, children and teachers.
“I feel very sad when I attend this event because while other children like me are in school, I have to go to the jungle and pluck the lasia plant every day for our family survival, “ shared a 14 years old child labourer from Ohn Ship Gone Village, Daik – U Township, Bago Division.
Adults, particularly parents, teachers, community members and village authorities gained some insights as well. “Today’s is a first time I have attended this kind of event where I gained a lot of knowledge on child work, child labour and hazardous work for children. Most of the children in the village work in some kind of hazardous work which use hazardous tools, materials and sometimes in hazardous condition such as working during night time, under direct sunlight, climb the trees, in the farm where they might encounter poisonous snakes and insects,” said a primary school teacher, Kan Ni Village, Mon State.
Two Myanmar artists, Nyan Kyal Say and Saw Phoe Kwar collaborated with the ILO to raise awareness on Child Labour in Myanmar as part of the national campaign. The video animation “I Wanna Go to School” and song were presented during the National Event on June 14 in Yangon.
This year, the country celebrated the World Day Against Child Labour for the 3rd time. Events were organized in different part of the country (Yangon, Ayeyarwady, Bago, Mon State) with the support of ILO Myanmar Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (MyPEC) and in partnership with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, the Confederation of Trade Unions in Myanmar, Ratana Metta Organization, Sympathy Hands and Jeepyah Civil Society Development Organization.
Participants included representatives from the government, Workers’ and Employers’ groups, civil society organizations, township and village authorities, parents, children and teachers.
“I feel very sad when I attend this event because while other children like me are in school, I have to go to the jungle and pluck the lasia plant every day for our family survival, “ shared a 14 years old child labourer from Ohn Ship Gone Village, Daik – U Township, Bago Division.
Adults, particularly parents, teachers, community members and village authorities gained some insights as well. “Today’s is a first time I have attended this kind of event where I gained a lot of knowledge on child work, child labour and hazardous work for children. Most of the children in the village work in some kind of hazardous work which use hazardous tools, materials and sometimes in hazardous condition such as working during night time, under direct sunlight, climb the trees, in the farm where they might encounter poisonous snakes and insects,” said a primary school teacher, Kan Ni Village, Mon State.
Two Myanmar artists, Nyan Kyal Say and Saw Phoe Kwar collaborated with the ILO to raise awareness on Child Labour in Myanmar as part of the national campaign. The video animation “I Wanna Go to School” and song were presented during the National Event on June 14 in Yangon.
VIDEO |
| For Burmese version of the video, please click here. |
SONG |
According to Nyan Kyal Say he decided to make a short animated film named “I Wanna Go to School” to point out some of the main obstacles the children have been facing, to raise people’s awareness and to motivate people to help the children – particularly, child labourers, in any possible way.
On the other hand, Saw Phoe Kwar mentioned that, “Wherever I go anywhere in the country I spend most of my time with children. I always wonder about the problems of and solutions to the underage children I see working at the teashops, road construction, cleaning places and selling flower near the traffic lights.”
Both artists believe that their collaboration, as well as those of other artists will be extremely helpful to eliminating of child labour in the world someday.
On the other hand, Saw Phoe Kwar mentioned that, “Wherever I go anywhere in the country I spend most of my time with children. I always wonder about the problems of and solutions to the underage children I see working at the teashops, road construction, cleaning places and selling flower near the traffic lights.”
Both artists believe that their collaboration, as well as those of other artists will be extremely helpful to eliminating of child labour in the world someday.