IN CONFLICTS AND DISASTERS, PROTECT CHILDREN FROM CHILD LABOUR!
On this World Day Against Child Labour, let’s join forces to end child labour in areas affected by conflicts and disasters!
12 June 2017
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Globally over 1.5 billion people live in countries that are affected by conflict, violence and fragility. At the same time, around 200 million people are affected by disasters every year. A third of them are children. A significant proportion of the 168 million children engaged in child labour live in areas affected by conflict and disaster. In this regard, the World Day Against Child Labour this year will focus on the impact of conflicts and disasters on child labour.
Conflicts and disasters have a devastating impact on people’s lives. They kill, maim, injure, force people to flee their homes, destroy livelihoods, push people into poverty and starvation and trap people in situations where their basic human rights are violated. Children are often the first to suffer as schools are destroyed and basic services are disrupted. Many children are internally displaced or become refugees in other countries, and are particularly vulnerable to trafficking and child labour. Ultimately, millions of children are pushed into child labour by conflicts and disasters.
Child labour in conflicts and disasters violates international law, Security Council resolutions
(SCR) and UN Conventions, including ILO Convention No. 138 on Minimum Age for Admission to Employment; ILO Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour; ILO Recommendation No. 71 on Employment Organisation in the transition from war to peace (under revision); as well as the Convention on the Rights of the Child and SCR 1612 on children and armed conflict.
Children have the right to be protected during conflicts and disasters and the best interests of the child have to be upheld. They have the right to regain their normal life and to return to learning as quickly as possible – education is key in combating child labour and for the development of prosperous societies. It is – simply – wrong for children to have to work to ensure their own survival and that of their families. All children must be protected at all times.
Child labour is a violation of children’s human rights, a major brake on sustainable decent work for development and a stain on humanity. Eradicating it is a global and globally-agreed priority. Through Target 8.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world community has committed to eliminating all forms of child labour by 2025. This target can only be achieved if no child is left behind in the fight against child labour – no matter how difficult and challenging the circumstances.
The ILO has helped its constituents in supporting thousands of children affected by child labour in conflicts and disasters. Children in several countries have been withdrawn from child labour and enrolled in education. In an integrated approach to addressing fundamental principles and rights at work, the ILO has developed specific tools to prevent child labour and provide economic reintegration in post-conflict situations, with a particular focus on children formerly associated with armed forces and groups. The ILO has also trained and mobilised government officials, employers, workers’ representatives and NGO staff on addressing child labour in situations of crisis and fragility.
Urgent action is needed to tackle child labour in areas affected by conflict and disaster. Child labour should be treated as a priority within humanitarian responses, and during reconstruction and recovery. Governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations and humanitarian actors have, and should play, a critical role in tackling child labour during conflicts and disasters. If the world is to achieve SDG Target 8.7, we need to intensify and accelerate action to end child labour, including in areas affected by conflict and disasters. And we need to do it together.
World Day is an opportunity to raise your voice against child labour. We invite you and your organization to be part of this year’s World Day.
Join us and add your voice to the worldwide movement against child labour.
Conflicts and disasters have a devastating impact on people’s lives. They kill, maim, injure, force people to flee their homes, destroy livelihoods, push people into poverty and starvation and trap people in situations where their basic human rights are violated. Children are often the first to suffer as schools are destroyed and basic services are disrupted. Many children are internally displaced or become refugees in other countries, and are particularly vulnerable to trafficking and child labour. Ultimately, millions of children are pushed into child labour by conflicts and disasters.
Child labour in conflicts and disasters violates international law, Security Council resolutions
(SCR) and UN Conventions, including ILO Convention No. 138 on Minimum Age for Admission to Employment; ILO Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour; ILO Recommendation No. 71 on Employment Organisation in the transition from war to peace (under revision); as well as the Convention on the Rights of the Child and SCR 1612 on children and armed conflict.
Children have the right to be protected during conflicts and disasters and the best interests of the child have to be upheld. They have the right to regain their normal life and to return to learning as quickly as possible – education is key in combating child labour and for the development of prosperous societies. It is – simply – wrong for children to have to work to ensure their own survival and that of their families. All children must be protected at all times.
Child labour is a violation of children’s human rights, a major brake on sustainable decent work for development and a stain on humanity. Eradicating it is a global and globally-agreed priority. Through Target 8.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world community has committed to eliminating all forms of child labour by 2025. This target can only be achieved if no child is left behind in the fight against child labour – no matter how difficult and challenging the circumstances.
The ILO has helped its constituents in supporting thousands of children affected by child labour in conflicts and disasters. Children in several countries have been withdrawn from child labour and enrolled in education. In an integrated approach to addressing fundamental principles and rights at work, the ILO has developed specific tools to prevent child labour and provide economic reintegration in post-conflict situations, with a particular focus on children formerly associated with armed forces and groups. The ILO has also trained and mobilised government officials, employers, workers’ representatives and NGO staff on addressing child labour in situations of crisis and fragility.
Urgent action is needed to tackle child labour in areas affected by conflict and disaster. Child labour should be treated as a priority within humanitarian responses, and during reconstruction and recovery. Governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations and humanitarian actors have, and should play, a critical role in tackling child labour during conflicts and disasters. If the world is to achieve SDG Target 8.7, we need to intensify and accelerate action to end child labour, including in areas affected by conflict and disasters. And we need to do it together.
World Day is an opportunity to raise your voice against child labour. We invite you and your organization to be part of this year’s World Day.
Join us and add your voice to the worldwide movement against child labour.