ILO raises voice for the protection of children from child labour in conflicts and disasters!
On June 12th, World Day against Child Labour, a series of activities took place in Şanlıurfa, Adana, Mersin and Hatay to focus attention on the theme "In conflicts and disasters, protect children from child labour"*
19 June 2017
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The International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for Turkey and South-eastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Regional Development Administration jointly organized a panel discussion in Şanlıurfa on June 12th on the “World Day against Child Labour.” The opening of the event was made by GAP Regional Development Administration Regional Director Hasan Kılıç and Şanlıurfa Deputy Governor Ufuk Akıl. Akıl said the issue is addressed in both central government actions and province-level initiatives and stressed the commitment to solve the problem through further efforts.
Panellists were Harran District Governor Temel Ayca; Şükran Büyükhan, Head of the Division of Basic Education in Şanlıurfa Provincial Directorate of National Education; Eyüb Sabri Cennetkuşu, Branch Director in Şanlıurfa Provincial Directorate of Employment Agency; and Adalet Budak Akbaş, General Coordinator of Human and Social Development in the GAP Administration. Audience included Syrian refugees and Turkish citizens who attended the vocational and technical training programmes implemented at Şanlıurfa Union of the Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen (ŞESOB) and at Parmaksız and Ahmet Yesevi Multi-purpose Community Centres.
Panellists exposed the negative effects on children of conflicts and disasters, measures adopted to mitigate these effects, and initiatives taken to empower parents in particular. They underlined that children should be protected from child labour in all circumstances.
In the same vein a seminar was organized on June 15th jointly by the ILO Office for Turkey, Hatay Union of the Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen (HESOB) and Eastern Mediterranean Development Agency (DOĞAKA).
Attended by representatives from public institutions and civil society organizations, the opening of the seminar was made by HESOB President Abdulkadir Teksöz, DOĞAKA Secretary General Onur Yıldız and Hikmet Çinçin, Executive Director of Antakya Chamber of Industry and Commerce. The speakers in the seminar were İbrahim Demircan, Head of the Department of Employment Policies in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security; ILO Field Coordinator Duygu Savur Tanrıverdi and ILO Consultant Şahin Serim. Topics discussed included the effects of child labour in general and in environments of conflict and disaster in particular, efforts waged to eliminate child labour, importance of inter-agency cooperation in combating child labour, relevant national legislation, and current arrangements on the issue.
Further, the ILO Office for Turkey organized informative seminars for trainees taking part in vocational and technical trainings held at Adana Foundation for Supporting Vocational Training and Small Industry (MEKSA) and Mersin Public Education Centre. During seminars trainees were informed, in the context of conflict and disaster, about the negative consequences of child labour and the importance of education as one of the most effective tools in combating this phenomenon.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security General Directorate of Labour organized a panel discussion in Gaziantep on June 12th on “National Programme on Combatting Child Labour”. The participants to the event included representatives from the Ministries of National Education, Interior, Family and Social Policies, Youth and Sports, and the ILO Office for Turkey. Discussions in the panel focused on the strategy and actions for eliminating child labour in the context of the National Programme covering the period 2017-2023.
* Child labour is an important global issue which requires urgent response. To draw attention to the issue, the International Labour Organization (ILO) declared June 12th as the World Day against Child Labour. The World Day leads a global campaign each year since 2002 and this year’s World Day focuses on the effects of conflicts and disasters on child labour with the theme “Protecting Children from Child Labour in Conflicts and Disasters”. In this context, the civil war in Syria has led to the largest problem of displacement in human history. With this crisis in Syria Turkey is the country presently hosting the largest refugee population while the effects of the crisis spread over economic and social spheres. There are over 3 million Syrians in Turkey and almost half of them are children. It is estimated for the school year 2016-2017 that 41% of Syrian children at school age are out of school (MoNE). This poses a significant risk in terms of child labour.
Panellists were Harran District Governor Temel Ayca; Şükran Büyükhan, Head of the Division of Basic Education in Şanlıurfa Provincial Directorate of National Education; Eyüb Sabri Cennetkuşu, Branch Director in Şanlıurfa Provincial Directorate of Employment Agency; and Adalet Budak Akbaş, General Coordinator of Human and Social Development in the GAP Administration. Audience included Syrian refugees and Turkish citizens who attended the vocational and technical training programmes implemented at Şanlıurfa Union of the Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen (ŞESOB) and at Parmaksız and Ahmet Yesevi Multi-purpose Community Centres.
Panellists exposed the negative effects on children of conflicts and disasters, measures adopted to mitigate these effects, and initiatives taken to empower parents in particular. They underlined that children should be protected from child labour in all circumstances.
In the same vein a seminar was organized on June 15th jointly by the ILO Office for Turkey, Hatay Union of the Chambers of Tradesmen and Craftsmen (HESOB) and Eastern Mediterranean Development Agency (DOĞAKA).
Attended by representatives from public institutions and civil society organizations, the opening of the seminar was made by HESOB President Abdulkadir Teksöz, DOĞAKA Secretary General Onur Yıldız and Hikmet Çinçin, Executive Director of Antakya Chamber of Industry and Commerce. The speakers in the seminar were İbrahim Demircan, Head of the Department of Employment Policies in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security; ILO Field Coordinator Duygu Savur Tanrıverdi and ILO Consultant Şahin Serim. Topics discussed included the effects of child labour in general and in environments of conflict and disaster in particular, efforts waged to eliminate child labour, importance of inter-agency cooperation in combating child labour, relevant national legislation, and current arrangements on the issue.
Further, the ILO Office for Turkey organized informative seminars for trainees taking part in vocational and technical trainings held at Adana Foundation for Supporting Vocational Training and Small Industry (MEKSA) and Mersin Public Education Centre. During seminars trainees were informed, in the context of conflict and disaster, about the negative consequences of child labour and the importance of education as one of the most effective tools in combating this phenomenon.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security General Directorate of Labour organized a panel discussion in Gaziantep on June 12th on “National Programme on Combatting Child Labour”. The participants to the event included representatives from the Ministries of National Education, Interior, Family and Social Policies, Youth and Sports, and the ILO Office for Turkey. Discussions in the panel focused on the strategy and actions for eliminating child labour in the context of the National Programme covering the period 2017-2023.
* Child labour is an important global issue which requires urgent response. To draw attention to the issue, the International Labour Organization (ILO) declared June 12th as the World Day against Child Labour. The World Day leads a global campaign each year since 2002 and this year’s World Day focuses on the effects of conflicts and disasters on child labour with the theme “Protecting Children from Child Labour in Conflicts and Disasters”. In this context, the civil war in Syria has led to the largest problem of displacement in human history. With this crisis in Syria Turkey is the country presently hosting the largest refugee population while the effects of the crisis spread over economic and social spheres. There are over 3 million Syrians in Turkey and almost half of them are children. It is estimated for the school year 2016-2017 that 41% of Syrian children at school age are out of school (MoNE). This poses a significant risk in terms of child labour.