ILO joins in commemorating the “World Day Against Child Labour”
ILO News (Lusaka): The International Labor organization (ILO) joins the rest of the world in commemorating World day Against Child Labour. On this day the plight of children caught up in conflicts and disasters, and those who are at particular risk of child labour are highlighted. Solutions to curb the predicament are shared and implemented by governments, employers and workers organizations, civil society, as well as millions of people from around the world.
6 June 2017
In times of conflict and disaster, homes, schools and livelihoods are often destroyed, family and social protection systems easily break down, and the risk of child labour and human trafficking increases. Child refugees and migrants, particularly those on the move who are separated from their families, are especially vulnerable.
In commemorating the event, ILO Director General Mr Guy Ryder said there are still 168 million children in child labour, 85 million of them in hazardous work around the world, which emphasises the need to protect all children as they have the right to be protected from child labour.
Mr Ryder expressed the need to share responsibility and solidarity in protecting the world’s children by providing them with education to restore hope and to give them the chance of a better future even in the face of the greatest refugee crisis.
He said The ILO’s Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) and the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) have now been ratified by 169 and 180 ILO member States respectively and India’s ratification of these Conventions soon to be deposited with the ILO, marked another milestone as almost all children in the world will be covered by Convention 182; and coverage of Convention 138 will leap from 60 per cent to 80 per cent.
And during the World Day Against Child Labour at East Park Lusaka, Zambia, the ILO Director for Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, Mr Alexio Musindo said children are particularly vulnerable in times of conflict and disaster, because normal activities are disrupted and protective mechanisms are shaken hence, in trying to ensure their survival, affected families may be forced to move and in the process, children leave their schools and are at great risk of having to work to contribute to the family’s survival.
Mr Musindo further indicated that it becomes worse, when a family is separated, as there are greater risks of children being trafficked, exploited, abused or put into forced labour and the resultant effects on a child’s personality, social, physical and emotional development could be devastating.
The challenges of child labour are also faced in Zambia as there are an estimated 950, 000 child labourers, translating in just over 1 in every 3 children aged between 7 and 14 years in the country therefore, children face greater vulnerability during conflicts, he noted.
Mr Musindo declared “Today we raise our voices together to call for protection of children from child labour in times of conflicts and disasters and progressively work towards the eradication of child labour, forced labour, human trafficking and modern slavery in our society. Child labour is a violation of children’s rights. No child should be left behind, no matter how difficult or challenging the circumstances”.
The commemoration of World day against Child Labour falls on 12th June every year.
In commemorating the event, ILO Director General Mr Guy Ryder said there are still 168 million children in child labour, 85 million of them in hazardous work around the world, which emphasises the need to protect all children as they have the right to be protected from child labour.
Mr Ryder expressed the need to share responsibility and solidarity in protecting the world’s children by providing them with education to restore hope and to give them the chance of a better future even in the face of the greatest refugee crisis.
He said The ILO’s Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) and the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) have now been ratified by 169 and 180 ILO member States respectively and India’s ratification of these Conventions soon to be deposited with the ILO, marked another milestone as almost all children in the world will be covered by Convention 182; and coverage of Convention 138 will leap from 60 per cent to 80 per cent.
“We are also pleased to contribute to the preparations for the IV Global Conference on the Sustained Eradication of Child Labour to be hosted by Argentina in November this year and look forward to outcomes that reinforce action to keep children out of child and forced labour and parents in decent work. So join us in marking World Day Against Child Labour! There is no time to lose. It is time to make our actions speak” he alluded.
And during the World Day Against Child Labour at East Park Lusaka, Zambia, the ILO Director for Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, Mr Alexio Musindo said children are particularly vulnerable in times of conflict and disaster, because normal activities are disrupted and protective mechanisms are shaken hence, in trying to ensure their survival, affected families may be forced to move and in the process, children leave their schools and are at great risk of having to work to contribute to the family’s survival.
Mr Musindo further indicated that it becomes worse, when a family is separated, as there are greater risks of children being trafficked, exploited, abused or put into forced labour and the resultant effects on a child’s personality, social, physical and emotional development could be devastating.
The challenges of child labour are also faced in Zambia as there are an estimated 950, 000 child labourers, translating in just over 1 in every 3 children aged between 7 and 14 years in the country therefore, children face greater vulnerability during conflicts, he noted.
Mr Musindo declared “Today we raise our voices together to call for protection of children from child labour in times of conflicts and disasters and progressively work towards the eradication of child labour, forced labour, human trafficking and modern slavery in our society. Child labour is a violation of children’s rights. No child should be left behind, no matter how difficult or challenging the circumstances”.
The commemoration of World day against Child Labour falls on 12th June every year.