WDACL 2014: ILO-IPEC Shrimp Project in Thailand hosted a group of Thai youth for discussion and study tour on engaging the youth and the general public in a campaign against child labour

The visit started with an in-depth session on children’s rights and child labour, followed by a lively question and answer session. The children were keen to introduce and exchange their ideas on what they themselves can do to help combat child labour by e.g. spreading the key messages of the Shrimp project – such as “All together against child labour” - among the youth and to the wider public.

The group was also given the opportunity to become familiarized with the ongoing work on combating child labour in Thailand – including through active collaboration in an upcoming advocacy campaign which will specifically target the Thai youth with various engaging activities. Finally, the group was given a tour of the local UN conference center with a photo session giving the group an opportunity to flash the red cards against child labour.

In addition to the youth visit, the IPEC partners will join the ILO’s global campaign thrust with a series of events observing the World Day Against Child Labour throughout June in the provinces of Samut Sakhon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla. This year, the World Day Against Child Labour draws particular attention to the role of social protection in keeping children out of the realm of child labour. In particular, the 2014 thematic thrust calls for:

1. Action to introduce, improve and extend social protection, in line with the ILO Recommendation No. 202 on social protection floors.
2. National social security systems that are sensitive to children’s needs and help fight child labour.
3. Social protection that reaches out to especially vulnerable groups of children.