African countries to meet in Addis Ababa to consult on child and forced labour
In September 2015, world leaders adopted the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) and 169 associated targets of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. Goal 8, which stands at the heart of the 2030 Agenda, seeks to “Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all”. Among the substantive targets set under goal 8, target 8.7 seeks to “Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms.”
16 June 2017
This call to action presents a unique opportunity to bring about a world free of forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour. It is a call to work together in innovative new ways. The ILO, FAO, IOM, UNHCR, UNODC, UNICEF and other key partners are in the process of co-creating a global Alliance to eradicate forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour. The aim is to bring all concerned parties together to join forces in achieving target 8.7. This call to action presents a unique opportunity to bring about a world free of forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour. Alliance 8.7 was officially launched in New York on 21 September 2016.
Globally 21 million men, women and children suffer as victims of forced labour and human trafficking for labour exploitation. Africa has the second largest number of victims, 3.7 million (18 per cent of the total), after Asia and the Pacific. Zimbabwe is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labour. The cases on trafficking and forced labour have in the recent past dominated the news. According to reports in the media, more than 200 women were trafficked to Kuwait for purposes of domestic servitude, sexual and labour exploitation amongst various inhuman practices. Several other cases have been reported of Zimbabwean migrants trafficked to other countries in the region including children to South Africa.
ILO estimates that 168 million girls and boys work in situations of child labour. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest incidence of child labour with 59 million (21.4 per cent) children aged 5- 17 years in child labour. In Zimbabwe there is evidence of child labour and the worst forms of child, which includes children’s participation in prostitution, mining, agriculture, hazardous domestic work and the targeted illicit activities such as drugs and alcohol abuse (MoLSS, 2008, RA on the WFCL). According to Zimbabwe’s last Child Labour Report (2014), about 50 percent of the 4 500 000 children aged 5 to 17 years are involved in economic and non-economic activities.
The Government of Zimbabwe is commended for demonstrating commitment to addressing these issues through ratifying key protocols and conventions such as the Trafficking in Persons Protocol, the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) and the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182). Furthermore the government, with the support of development partners has developed legislation such as the Children’s Act, Trafficking in Persons Act and the prohibition of slavery/forced labour in the Constitution and the Labour Act. The ILO, FAO, IOM, UNHCR, UNODC, UNICEF are already engaged in supporting government and other stakeholders to protect and promote the rights of refugee children, those caught up in trafficking and during health and natural disasters. However, given the magnitude of the problems, more work still needs to be done. The Alliance 8.7 thus brings together all concerned parties together to join forces to: accelerate action; conduct research and share knowledge; drive innovation and increase and leverage resources to ensure achievement of the Target 8.7.
From 22 to 23 June 2017, Alliance 8.7 will host a 2-day consultative meeting on child labour and forced labour in Sub-Saharan Africa, in Addis Ababa Ethiopia in preparation for the IV Global Conference on the Sustained Eradication of Child Labour to be hosted by Argentina in November 2017. The countries that will participate in the meeting are Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe will be represented by the tripartite partners - government (Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare,) the social partners, (Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe) and a representative of the civil society (Coalition Against Child Labour in Zimbabwe (CACLAZ). The objectives of the consultation is to identify common challenges, priorities and good practices in eliminating child labour and forced labour in sub Saharan Africa in preparation for the IV Global Conference; and to provide a forum to discuss operationalization of Alliance 8.7 in Africa and to provide concrete recommendations on the way forward.
In Zimbabwe the ILO has taken the lead in initiating discussions on the Alliance 8.7. One of the initial activities was a consultative meeting to sensitise UN agencies about the Alliance 8.7 and its aspirations. A commitment was made by the UN agencies to issue out joint statements of commitment on relevant commemorative days on child labour, trafficking, slavery; starting with the World Day Against Child Labour that was commemorated on 12 June 2017 and the Day of the African Child (DAC), 16 June 2017. The next steps will include similar consultative meetings with the tripartite partners and the civil society members to prepare for the country’s participation at the regional and global forums and also explore the possibility of an Alliance 8.7 country initiative.
Globally 21 million men, women and children suffer as victims of forced labour and human trafficking for labour exploitation. Africa has the second largest number of victims, 3.7 million (18 per cent of the total), after Asia and the Pacific. Zimbabwe is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labour. The cases on trafficking and forced labour have in the recent past dominated the news. According to reports in the media, more than 200 women were trafficked to Kuwait for purposes of domestic servitude, sexual and labour exploitation amongst various inhuman practices. Several other cases have been reported of Zimbabwean migrants trafficked to other countries in the region including children to South Africa.
ILO estimates that 168 million girls and boys work in situations of child labour. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest incidence of child labour with 59 million (21.4 per cent) children aged 5- 17 years in child labour. In Zimbabwe there is evidence of child labour and the worst forms of child, which includes children’s participation in prostitution, mining, agriculture, hazardous domestic work and the targeted illicit activities such as drugs and alcohol abuse (MoLSS, 2008, RA on the WFCL). According to Zimbabwe’s last Child Labour Report (2014), about 50 percent of the 4 500 000 children aged 5 to 17 years are involved in economic and non-economic activities.
The Government of Zimbabwe is commended for demonstrating commitment to addressing these issues through ratifying key protocols and conventions such as the Trafficking in Persons Protocol, the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) and the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182). Furthermore the government, with the support of development partners has developed legislation such as the Children’s Act, Trafficking in Persons Act and the prohibition of slavery/forced labour in the Constitution and the Labour Act. The ILO, FAO, IOM, UNHCR, UNODC, UNICEF are already engaged in supporting government and other stakeholders to protect and promote the rights of refugee children, those caught up in trafficking and during health and natural disasters. However, given the magnitude of the problems, more work still needs to be done. The Alliance 8.7 thus brings together all concerned parties together to join forces to: accelerate action; conduct research and share knowledge; drive innovation and increase and leverage resources to ensure achievement of the Target 8.7.
From 22 to 23 June 2017, Alliance 8.7 will host a 2-day consultative meeting on child labour and forced labour in Sub-Saharan Africa, in Addis Ababa Ethiopia in preparation for the IV Global Conference on the Sustained Eradication of Child Labour to be hosted by Argentina in November 2017. The countries that will participate in the meeting are Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe will be represented by the tripartite partners - government (Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare,) the social partners, (Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe) and a representative of the civil society (Coalition Against Child Labour in Zimbabwe (CACLAZ). The objectives of the consultation is to identify common challenges, priorities and good practices in eliminating child labour and forced labour in sub Saharan Africa in preparation for the IV Global Conference; and to provide a forum to discuss operationalization of Alliance 8.7 in Africa and to provide concrete recommendations on the way forward.
In Zimbabwe the ILO has taken the lead in initiating discussions on the Alliance 8.7. One of the initial activities was a consultative meeting to sensitise UN agencies about the Alliance 8.7 and its aspirations. A commitment was made by the UN agencies to issue out joint statements of commitment on relevant commemorative days on child labour, trafficking, slavery; starting with the World Day Against Child Labour that was commemorated on 12 June 2017 and the Day of the African Child (DAC), 16 June 2017. The next steps will include similar consultative meetings with the tripartite partners and the civil society members to prepare for the country’s participation at the regional and global forums and also explore the possibility of an Alliance 8.7 country initiative.