Youth survivors, activists to hold governments accountable call for action on ending child labor – Global issues
DURBAN, May 20 (IPS) – Governments around the world must focus on providing quality free education and prosecuting corrupt officials and extractors of state and political capital. funding as important steps towards decisive action to combat child labor globally.
This was one of the diverse opinions of child labor survivors and young activists in response to Durban’s Call to Action to End Child Labor. 5order Global Conference on Elimination of Child Labor in Durban. Hundreds of delegates, including world leaders in business, trade unions and civil society organisations, attended the conference taking place in the city from 15 to 20 May 2022. The council’s sessions and discussions highlight topics from agriculture, climate change and global supply chains and how these areas and issues contribute to child labor.
Speaking at the closing ceremony on Friday, International Organization of Employers Africa Region Vice President, Jacqueline Mugo, highlighted the highlights of Durban’s 11-page Call to Action.
“The Durban Call to Action is a comprehensive action plan. Employers fully support this plan,” said Mugo.
Durban’s call to action aims to:
- Ensure suitable work for adults and youth above the minimum age to work
- End child labor in agriculture
- Preventing and eliminating child and forced labor through data-driven policy and programmatic responses
- Exercising children’s right to education
- Universal access to social protection
- Strengthen international funding and cooperation.
“It is in our hearts to make this important turning point happen. The children of our world must not be disappointed. Carrying out this call to Durban will largely be the work of an African who will take the helm of the ILO later this year, so we have no excuse for failure. We are committed to working towards full implementation,” said Mugo.
Togolese diplomat Gilbert Houngbo ILO Director-General (elected) assumes his new position on October 1, 2022, strategically positioning him to lead the global fight against child labor.
“This conference is creating a new platform. Let us recall that 160 million children are in child labor, half of which are engaged in hazardous work that puts their physical and mental health at risk. We must not forget that behind every number there is a girl, a boy like any other child who wants to learn, play, be taken care of to grow up and be able to get a good job. . They are denied the most basic rights to protection. It is intolerable and, quite frankly, morally unacceptable,” Houngbo said.
According to the International Labor Organization (ILO) and UNICEFThe latest statistics published in 2020, stated at the conference, that at least 160 million children are currently involved in child labor, an increase of 8.4 million in just 4 years.
Sierra Leone Labor Congress Secretary General Max Conteh has blamed the Covid-19 pandemic for eroding progress made in the fight against child labour.
“Statistics show that past achievements are rapidly eroding and child labor is exacerbated, not by the Covid-19 pandemic. This has resulted in a large number of children dropping out of school and falling into the labor market,” Conteh said.
South Africa’s Minister of Employment and Labor, Thulas Nxesi, called on countries to implement action plans to implement the Durban Call to Action.
“The message is clear, governments must pass the necessary legislation, governments and businesses (must) accept that we need a structural change in the economy, it’s not just for profit. but also for people. That message is very clear. It would have been a serious oversight if not earlier in the conference children issued a Children’s Call to Action, which highlighted the need for free access to education, social protection, providing safe space during crises such as pandemics and climate change disasters and the importance of instilling the “nothing about us without us” mentality to put children in safe spaces. policies and decisions that democratically affect their lives.
Several child labor activists and victims who commented on the conference and the Call to Action in Durban said the focus against child labor should be on education, eradicating corruption and listening to voices. children’s speech.
Esther Gomani, a student from Malawi, was pleased when the voices of about 60 children, representing ten countries, were heard for the first time during special sessions for children at the global conference.
“In the past, they did things that didn’t include people (children). People come to the conference, and there is no commitment. They come to enjoy the benefits. Now children’s voices are amplified (so they will be heard) – nothing about us, without us. We need to be involved in solutions,” said Gomani.
Rajesh Jatav, a child labor survivor from India who was saved by Kailash Satyarthi Foundation, said governments should focus on providing quality education.
“Education is key. This is the only message. Quality basic education care. Governments have a lot of money for quality education. But there is corruption. They should use this money to stop illegal flows,” Jatav said.
Badaku Marandi, a survivor from India vehemently agreed.
“We are child survivors and educated, we challenge the government and private sector to provide quality education,” says Marandi.
Rebekka Nghilalulwa, a children’s activist and representative of 100 million March (Namibia) said this plan needs to be implemented to achieve results.
“I would like to see the responsibilities and roles of each person described. The Durban declaration should outline the correct implementation. That way, next time we’ll celebrate and not weigh in on issues. It would be disappointing to include only voices to show off. Nghilalulwa said that even though we were young, we had experience (in child labor).
Report of the United Nations Office IPS
This is one of many stories IPS will be announcing during the 5th Global Conference on Eliminating Child Labor in Durban, South Africa.
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© Inter Press Service (2022) – All rights reservedOrigin: Inter Press Service
