Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006
ILO Report on Child Labour 2006
Tokyo and Geneva Connect to Discuss New Trends and Issues
A new global report on child labour launched by the International Labour Organization (ILO) was the topic of a videoconference held on May 23, 2006 connecting ILO Headquarters in Geneva and the TDLC. Organized by the ILO Office in Japan, over 20 participants including members of NGOs gathered at the TDLC to listen to new findings and discuss common issues.
This report is the second of its kind issued by the ILO. According to new estimates, the number of child labourers globally has fallen by 11 % over the last four years. The sharpest decline was in the area of hazardous work by children, which saw a reduction of 26%. Opening the session, ILO Director General Juan Somavia noted in a recorded message that these results represented "a story of dignity and hope", and emphasized that "It is time to take our work to the next level". The report sets out the goal of eliminating the worst forms of child labour in the next ten years.
From Geneva, members of the ILO's International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) gave a presentation on the new report, explaining trends and ongoing efforts to meet ILO targets. IPEC commenced work in 1992 with the overall goal of the progressive elimination of child labour through strengthening the capacity of countries to deal with the problem. A question and answer session between Geneva and Tokyo followed the presentation, focusing on the role of developed countries, efforts to counter the related issue of HIV/AIDS, and the significance of universal education.
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