Mombasa Call to Action Signed During World Day Against Child Labour

The Mombasa Call to Action draws inspiration from the Durban Call to Action 2022, adopted at the 5th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour in Durban, South Africa. This pivotal conference addressed the alarming increase in child labour, especially in Africa. Between 2016 and 2020, the percentage of children involved in child labour in Africa rose from 19.6% to 21.6%, translating to an increase from 72.1 million to 92.2 million children.

A Symbolic Pledge: Unveiling the Mombasa Call to Action Plaque

The event reached its peak with the unveiling of the Mombasa Call to Action, symbolizing the collective commitment to eradicate child labour. The public signing of the plaque by the County Government of Mombasa and the children’s representative served as a lasting reminder of their pledge.

The signed Mombasa Call to Action, which was mounted within the school serves as a symbolic and tangible representation of the collective commitment by the County Government of Mombasa and various stakeholders to address the issue of child labour. It is also a constant reminder of the social contract with the children and citizens of Mombasa County to implement the commitments made during the event.

The Durban Call to Action proposed several key strategies to combat this issue:

1. Decent Work for Adults and Youth: Accelerating efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labour by ensuring decent work opportunities for adults and youth above the minimum working age.
2. Ending Child Labour in Agriculture: Focusing on one of the largest sectors employing child labour.
3. Strengthening Prevention and Elimination Efforts: Addressing forced labour, modern slavery, and trafficking, and protecting survivors through data-driven and survivor-informed policies.
4. Right to Education: Ensuring universal access to free, compulsory, quality, equitable, and inclusive education and training.
5. Universal Social Protection: Achieving universal access to social protection to support vulnerable families.
6. Increased Financing and Cooperation: Enhancing international cooperation and financial support to eliminate child labour and forced labour.

The Mombasa Call to Action embodies these strategies, aiming to amplify partnerships, collaboration, innovation, and resource allocation to end child labour.

Marching for Change: A Community United Against Child Labour

The event began with a vibrant march through Mikindani, setting a lively and engaging tone for the day. Children, community members, and stakeholders walked together, demonstrating unity and collective determination to address child labour. The march culminated at Mikindani Primary School, where the main activities took place.

© ILO

© ILO

Voices of the Future: Voices of Change

Children participated in various sensitization exercises, sharing their views on child labour. An arts and poster exhibition showcased their creative expressions and perspectives on the issue, emphasizing the importance of including children’s voices in the fight against child labour.

© ILO

© ILO

The children's artwork and materials showcased during the event will continue to be used for advocacy purposes, highlighting the ongoing efforts to prevent and address child labour in Mombasa County. This creative output will serve as a powerful tool in raising awareness and engaging the community in this critical issue.

Let's act on our commitments: End Child Labour!

The Speaker of Mombasa County Assembly officiated the event, delivering a compelling address that underscored the county's commitment to eradicating child labour. Other dignitaries, including representatives from the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection, and civil society organizations including ILO, also spoke, reinforcing the collaborative nature of this initiative.

© ILO

© ILO

Attendees received a comprehensive update on the implementation of the Durban Call to Action strategies, highlighting progress and areas needing further attention. Ms. Grace Banya, ILO CAPSA Project Manager further energized the participants, emphasizing the urgency and importance of concerted efforts to end child labour.

The Time to Act is Now!

Additionally, the establishment of working groups and task forces was announced, designed to follow up on the action items discussed during the event. These groups will play a crucial role in ensuring that the strategies outlined in the Mombasa Call to Action are effectively implemented and monitored.

The event significantly heightened awareness and momentum in the global effort to eliminate child labour, aligning with the 25th anniversary of ILO Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour. The participation of various stakeholders and the community underscored the importance of collective action and reinforced the message that ending child labour requires concerted efforts from all sectors of society.

© ILO

© ILO

Despite progress in reducing cases of child labour over the years, recent trends have shown a concerning reversal in earlier trends, making it crucial to intensify efforts to end child labour. The international community, under the framework of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 8.7, remains committed to eliminating child labour by 2025. The Mombasa Call to Action represents a significant step towards achieving this goal, drawing inspiration from the global roadmap laid out in the Durban Call to Action.

Let’s continue to join forces to protect children’s rights and eradicate child labour in all its forms.