As efforts to end child labour slow, ILO calls for "re-energized"
global action
http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Media_and_public_information/Press_releases/lang--en/WCMS_126840/index.htmType Press release
Date issued 07 May 2010
Reference ILO/10/19
Unit responsible Communication and Public Information
Subjects child labour
Other languages Français • Español
Amid growing concerns over the impact of the economic downturn, the
International Labour Office (ILO) warned in a new study that efforts
to eliminate the worst forms of child labour are slowing down and
called for a "re-energized" global campaign to end the practice.
In its quadrennial Global Report on child labour, the ILO said that
the global number of child labourers had declined from 222 million to
215 million, or 3 per cent, over the period 2004 to 2008, representing
a "slowing down of the global pace of reduction." The report also
expressed concern that the global economic crisis could "further
brake" progress toward the goal of eliminating the worst forms of
child labour by 2016.
"Progress is uneven: neither fast enough nor comprehensive enough to
reach the goals that we have set," said ILO Director-General Juan
Somavia. "New and large-scale efforts are needed. The situation calls
for a re-energized campaign against child labour. We must scale up
action and move into a higher gear."
Mr. Somavia added: "The economic downturn cannot become an excuse for
diminished ambition and inaction. Instead it offers the opportunity to
implement the policy measures that work for people, for recovery and
for sustainable development."
The new ILO report, entitled Accelerating action against Child Labour,
comes on the eve of a Global Child Labour Conference organized by the
Government of the Netherlands in The Hague in cooperation with the
ILO. Mr. Somavia said the impetus for action will be given a boost at
the Global Conference, which is to consider a new "road map" for the
elimination of child labour.
Trends since 2006
The new report's findings are in contrast to the last quadrennial
evaluation in 2006 which found greater cause for optimism. The updated
picture is one of "uneven" progress toward the goal of eliminating the
worst forms of child labour by 2016. The report warns that if current
trends continue the 2016 target will be missed.
The good news is that the overall pattern of child labour reduction
has been maintained: the more harmful the work and the more vulnerable
the children involved, the faster the decline. However, a staggering
115 million are still exposed to hazardous work, a proxy often used
for the worst forms of child labour.
The report breaks down data by age and gender. Progress was greatest
among children aged 5-14, where the number of child labourers fell by
10 per cent. The number of children in hazardous work in this age
range fell by 31 per cent. Child labour among girls decreased
considerably (by 15 million or 15 per cent). However, it increased
among boys (by 8 million or 7 per cent). What's more, child labour
among young people aged 15 to 17 increased by 20 per cent, from 52
million to 62 million.
The Global Report also includes data aggregated by region. It shows,
for example, that Asia Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean
continue to reduce child labour, while sub-Saharan Africa has
witnessed an increase both in relative and absolute terms. This region
also has the highest incidence of children working, with one in four
children engaged in child labour.
Constance Thomas, Director of the ILO's International Programme on the
Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), outlined some of the key remaining
challenges in tackling child labour, including the scale of the
problem in Africa, a much needed breakthrough in agriculture – where
most child labourers work – and the need to address sometimes "hidden"
forms of child labour, which are often among the worst forms.
"Most child labour is rooted in poverty. The way to tackle the problem
is clear. We must ensure that all children have the chance of going to
school, we need social protection systems that support vulnerable
families – particularly at times of crisis – and we need to ensure
that adults have a chance of decent work. These measures, combined
with effective enforcement of laws that protect children, provide the
way forward", Ms Thomas said.
The ILO IPEC programme was launched in 1992, and in the 2008-09
biennium it was operational in over 90 countries.
The global conference on child labour in The Hague on 10-11 May will
gather some 450 delegates from 80 countries. The meeting will also
serve as a platform for the launch of an interagency report by the
ILO, the World Bank and UNICEF. The report, "Joining forces against
child labour – Inter-agency report for The Hague Global Child Labour
Conference of 2010", calls for child labour to be placed at the
forefront of national development agendas and presents a range of
evidence indicating that child labour constitutes an important
impediment to national development.
For more information on the Global Report and the interagency report,
please contact the ILO Department of Communication at +4122/799-7912
or communication@ilo.org
For more information on the meeting in The Hague, please visit:
www.childlabourconference2010.com
--
Truth resides in every human heart, and one has to search for it there, and to be guided by truth as one sees it. But no one has a right to coerce others to act according to his own view of truth. - Mohandas Gandhi
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