***Find out more about the World Day Against Child Labour, 12 June 2006: http://www.hrea.org/feature-events/day-against-childlabour.php Events worldwide under theme "The End of Child Labour: Together we can do it!" GENEVA (ILO News), 7 June 2006 - With World Cup fever in full swing, the International Labour Organization (ILO) will symbolically wave a "Red Card" against child work as part of a series of global events beginning this week to mark the World Day Against Child Labour. World Cup football legend Roger Milla of Cameroon and leaders of the sports, scouting and labour worlds will speak at ceremonies here in Geneva on 12 June, the World Day. Mr. Milla and others will appeal for an end to child labour at the event, designed to highlight the ILO's global "Red Card to child labour" campaign which, through the partnership with FIFA, has reached millions of people around the world since its launch in 2002. At the same time, activities ranging from television specials to nationwide discussions, marches and public awareness raising events are planned in some 100 countries under the theme, "The End of Child Labour: Together we can do it!", according to the ILO's International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC). "Many have said child labour will always be with us," said Juan Somavia, Director-General of the ILO. "But the global movement against child labour is proving them wrong. That is the meaning of the symbolic waving of the Red Card against child labour - it's not just a gesture, it's a way to highlight our struggle for the right of every child to a real childhood." Below is an overview of events taking place on or around the World Day. In Geneva, the main events on 8, 9 and 12 June coincide with the ILO's International Labour Conference. Thursday, 8 June: Tripartite Event: Ministers of Labour from eight member States of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) will exchange views on their action plan against child labour. The event will consolidate an initiative launched in Lisbon in May, including a CPLP Declaration against child labour and commitment of the concerned countries to eradicate the worst forms of child labour by the year 2016 (Palais des Nations, 6.15 p.m. to 7.45 p.m.). Friday 9 June: Delegates to the International Labour Conference will hold a plenary discussion on the Global Report to review progress made and identify challenges ahead on the way to eliminating the hazardous forms of child labour over the next decade. At a special round-table event to be held from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Brazilian Minister of Labour H.E. Mr. Luis Marinho, the Tanzanian Minister of Labour H.E. Mr. Jumanne Maghembe and the Turkish Minister of labour H.E. Mr. Murat Basesgioglu together with the worker's and employers' representatives of these countries will present their strategies and results obtained in the fight against child labour in their countries. (UNOG Palais des Nations). Monday 12 June: Roger Milla will "Kick the Ball" against child labour in a friendly match with girls teams from a local football club and an international school. Joining the ceremony prior to the match will be ILO Director-General Juan Somavia, Mr. Federico Addiechi, head of Corporate Social Responsibility of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association FIFA, Dr. Eduardo Missoni, Secretary General, World Organization of the Scout Movement, Ms Nicole Petignat-Mouidi, the only female referee qualified for male international matches and Mr. Carlos Xavier, a football player from Portugal and creator of a football club targeted at child development. (ILO headquarters - 1.00 p.m. - 3 p.m.). Worldwide ----------------------------------------------------------- Numerous events, discussions and other activities are planned worldwide to mark the Day and raise awareness about child labour. A march in Port-au-Prince (Haïti), card pinwheels throughout Brazil, a poetry, essay and painting competition in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), a panel discussion about research gaps in Washington, DC. Television and radio programmes, stories of working children reported in newspapers, children performing in drama, song and dance. In more than 100 countries around the world, people are reminded that at least on this one day of the year, they should reflect on the fate of working children. In Sialkot, Pakistan, where IPEC has been eradicating child labour in the football stitching sector with the support from, among others, FIFA, the link between WDACL and the start of the World Cup will be symbolized with the kick off of the first match in the new ILO-FIFA programme on supporting children's rights through football. Children who used to stitch footballs will now be able to play football. This is the fist step in a development of sport as part of rehabilitation of former child labourers word wide. Many of the events will focus on discussions of this year's ILO global report entitled "The end of child labour: within reach" which was released last month. The report shows that child labour has decreased worldwide for the first time, dropping by 11 per cent from 246 million to 218 million between 2000 and 2004. The report calls upon Member States to aim at eradicating the worst forms of child labour in a decade from now. The World Day Against Child Labour (WDACL) is observed worldwide on or around 12 June each year. It serves as a catalyst for the growing worldwide movement against child labour.
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