ILO and UNICEF raise awareness on child labour in Lebanon’s agriculture sector
A joint workshop by the two UN agencies sheds light on the prevalence and hazards of child labour in northern Lebanon’s agriculture sector, on the rise partly due to the Syria refugee crisis.
The ILO and UNICEF held an advocacy workshop on Thursday 7 April, targeting local policy-makers, and addressing ways of reducing the risks of child labour in the agricultural sector in the northern Lebanese Akkar region.
Held under the patronage of Lebanon’s Minister of Labour Sejaan Azzi, and in coordination with the Governor of Akkar Emad Labaki, the workshop shed light on the prevalence of child labour and the damage it causes, be it physical, economic, social or psychological.
Child labour is on the rise in Lebanon, partly due to the influx of refugee families fleeing the conflict in neighbouring Syria.
One of the most affected areas is Akkar, a heavily agricultural area that has received large numbers of refugees.
“There are indications that in recent years, the scale and incidence of child labour and its worst forms have been significantly on the rise in Lebanon due to deteriorating socio-economic conditions and the on-going Syrian conflict which has displaced hundreds of thousands of children,” said Annabella Skof, Chief Technical Advisor and Socio-economic Recovery Expert at the ILO Regional Office for Arab States.
“We must tackle the roots of the problem while simultaneously providing immediate support to children in need. We need to ensure that families living in poverty have adequate incomes, income security and health care. These economic and social protection measures can help households weather shocks and keep their children in school and out of child labour,” she said.
The workshop aimed to expand the network of cooperation to combat child labour, and to identify potential interventions in line with national strategies and programmes adopted by the Ministry of Labour.
“We warmly welcome the strengthened collaboration of relevant actors in Akkar today, not only between ministries and donors, but also parents, key community members and those who employ children, particularly in the agriculture sector,” said Luciano Calestini, UNICEF Lebanon Deputy Country Representative.
With agriculture constituting one of the world’s three most hazardous sectors in terms of work-related fatalities, injuries and diseases, the rise of child labour in Akkar is cause for extreme alarm.
“To prevent children from being exploited and becoming victims of the most severe form of child labour is not easy, but it’s achievable – by addressing the direct causes of poverty and by continuing to help children involved in child labour. We cannot stand by and quietly watch thousands of children being exploited in hazardous working environments across the country. It’s unacceptable and we have to use every means to release children from these pressures,” said Calestini.
The event was held in collaboration with the Akkar Network for Development, World Vision and BEYOND; all actors that are active in combating child labour and protecting youth. Other key organizations and stakeholders such as FAO, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Social Affairs, also took part.
Governor Imad Labaki stressed that cooperation amongst all actors combating child labour was needed to ensure success.
“What is required of all of us now is to work hard and combine our efforts to combat the worst forms of child labour in all sectors, not only the agriculture sector, and in all areas, not only in Akkar. We hope that Akkar will lead the way in addressing this phenomenon, and the Governorate of Akkar and the Local Economic Development Committee are ready to assist and participate in practical solutions that will improve the life of the resident of Akkar and of those who have newly arrived here,” Labaki said.
The workshop complemented current activities and joint efforts between the Ministry of Labour the ILO Regional Office for Arab States on strengthening national strategies and programmes to combat child labour.
“On behalf of his Excellency the Minister of Labour Sejaan Azzi,” said the head of the Ministry’s Child Labour Unit Nazha Challita, “I call on all involved, including the government, employers, workers and civil society, to renew the commitment to combat child labour and tackle its root causes, because a child in danger cannot afford to wait.”
