‘ILO raising awareness about child labour elimination’

LAHORE

On the 15th World Day against Child Labour (WDACL), the ILO Pakistan office, in collaboration with its tripartite constituents, the United Nations (UN) and the Civil Society Organisations, is organising activities to raise awareness about elimination of child labour and pursue its goal of making the society free of child labour and child abuse.

This was shared by an ILO Pakistan representative while talking to The News, Lahore, on Monday.

The global theme for WDACL 2017 is ‘In conflict and disasters, protect children from child labour’. It is a fact that disasters and conflicts have adverse effects on people’s lives.

They bring catastrophic impacts and increase poverty which is one of the key root causes of the child labour globally. Conflicts and disasters also cause huge displacements and children on the move are especially vulnerable to trafficking and labour, during transit and after arriving at the refugee destinations.

As per the ILO statement shared on this occasion, globally an estimated 250 million children live in areas affected by armed conflict and each year almost 70 million children are affected by natural disasters.

Many of the 168 million children engaged in child labour live in conflict and disaster-affected areas.

Children also make up more than half of the population of the 65 million people presently displaced by war and conflicts, the statement added.

The ILO representative also shared that 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 members states, including Pakistan respectively.

Furthermore, it said, member states, including Pakistan are fully committed under 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda to eliminate all forms of child labour by 2025.