ILO fears the goal of eliminating child labour by 2016 may not be reached

Accra, June 5, GNA - Though a global report shows a modest decline in the rate of child labour, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has expressed doubt as to whether the goal of eliminating the menace by 2016 could be realised.

The Organisation's 2008 Comprehensive Report puts the figure of children engaged in labour worldwide at 215 million, with 115 million of the number engaged in hazardous work. Mr Francesco d'Ovidio, Chief Technical Advisor of the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), made this known at the weekend during the media launch of the 2010 World Day Against Child Labour, held in Accra.

The event under the theme: "Ghana Go for the Goal: End Child Labour," also saw the launch of the current ILO Child Labour Global Report. Mr d'Ovidio said there still existed strong factors that militated against the attainment of the international goal of eliminating the worst forms of child labour and, therefore, suggested measures to deal with the situation.

The implementation of national plans to tackle child labour, inclusion of child labour outcomes in national development plans, quality education, social protection of poor families and law enforcement and child protection were some of his suggestions.

Others were increasing international co-operation, strengthening co-operation with social partners, advocacy and mobilisation using communication tools and decent work opportunities for adults. Mr Kabral Blay-Amihere, Chairman of the National Media Commission, urged journalists to serve as agents of change in their reportage to clamp down on child labour and its associated repercussions. He said they needed to investigate stories, do interviews and monitor events in order to make continuous and consistent inputs on issues bordering on child labour to achieve the needed impact. "You need to set the agenda for the society. I appeal to you to feel the anguish of the African child and allow it to guide you to do a continuous report on the subject to effect a positive change in society," he said.

Alluding to some legends of change, he said Bob Marley, a reggae pop star, sang on the themes of liberation and justice, adding they were qualities that were badly needed in some countries including Zimbabwe. "He sang about justice and liberation in Zimbabwe when others sang about love. His influence had been so remarkable that people continue to talk about him even though he is now dead," he said. "You have the chance of impacting the lives of children and it is up to you to do things differently in a positive way. It is a work that will not give you economic benefits now, but that which will give you recognition for the good work you do for society."

Miss Anna Bossman, Deputy Commissioner for the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) decried the prevalence of child labour in country and called on the media to join in the fight against its worst forms.

Mr Ransford Tetteh, President of the Ghana Journalists Association, espoused the role of the media in tackling the issue of child labour, stressing that a clear and unambiguous way of communicating to the public was critical to eliminating the menace. He referred to child labour as not only being a social issue but an economic, legal, political and cultural one as well, adding that journalists needed to be properly acquainted with the issue to make meaningful and positive contributions.

Madam Stella Ofori, Principal Labour Officer at the Child Labour Unit of the Labour Department, said government had, through the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare and with support from the ILO/IPEC, developed the National Plan of Actions (NPA) to eliminate worst forms of child labour. She said nine worst forms of child labour had been identified in the NPA as priority areas needing attention.

Madam Ofori said the areas included child trafficking, fisheries, mining and quarrying, ritual servitude, commercial sexual exploitation, child domestic servitude, portage of heavy loads, agriculture, street hawking and begging.

NPA is a comprehensive framework which seeks to promote a more co-ordinated effort towards the elimination of the worst forms of child labour. Its main objective is to reduce the worst forms of child labour to the barest minimum by 2015, while laying strong social, policy and institutional foundations for the elimination and prevention of all other forms of child labour in the longer term.