[child-rights] World Day Against Child Labour to focus on elimination of child labour in agriculture

***Find out more about the World Day Against Child Labour, 12 June 2007:  
http://www.hrea.org/feature-events/day-against-childlabour.php


GENEVA (ILO News) -- This year's World Day Against Child Labour on 12 June
is to focus on the elimination of child labour in agriculture, which
accounts for a staggering percentage of the world's working children and
is one of the most dangerous forms of work for children and adults like.

The ILO's International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour
(IPEC) estimates that over 100 million boys and girls aged 5-14 work as
child labourers on farms and plantations the world over, where they are
often exposed to hazards and risks that run the gamut from the mixing,
handling and applying of toxic pesticides to using dangerous cutting
tools, to working in extreme temperatures and operating powerful farm
vehicles and heavy machinery.

To strengthen the worldwide movement against child labour, the ILO is to
launch a new partnership on 12 June with five international
agriculture-based organizations: the Food and Agricultural Organization
(FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) of the Consultative
Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the International
Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) and the International Union of
Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied
Workers' Associations (IUF).

The aim of this new partnership will be to develop common policies,
programmes and activities at international and national levels against
child labour in agriculture. These partner organizations will play an
important role in working with ministries of agriculture, agricultural
advisory services, research bodies and other offices involved in
agricultural policy issues. It may also be expanded in the future to
include other agricultural-based organizations.

The ILO stressed that not all children working in agriculture can be
considered child labourers under the terms of ILO conventions No. 138 and
No. 182 if they perform tasks appropriate to a child's age and that are a
normal part of growing up in a rural environment.

The World Day Against Child Labour is observed worldwide on or around 12
June each year. It serves as a catalyst for the growing worldwide movement
against child labour.

A substantive press release, and a set of fact sheets and other background
information, will be issued on 8 June for use by the media on the world
day. The press release will be for publication on or after 2300 GMT on 11
June. The ILO has also prepared digital news and information material for
use by broadcasters on or after the World Day. For more information, media
materials and other background on child labour, see
www.ilo.org/childlabour.


World Day Against Child Labour 2007 Events

In Geneva, the main event on 12 June, coincides with the ILO's
International Labour Conference and consists of the Signing Ceremony for
the Declaration of Intent on Cooperation on Child Labour in Agriculture
between the ILO, FAO, IFAD, IFPRI (CGIAR), IFAP, IUF launching the new
global partnership. During this ceremony in the Palais des Nations the
partner organizations will make statements supporting the Partnership. It
is followed by a public event organised jointly with the City of Geneva
and Le Respect on the Place des Nations with 500 schoolchildren releasing
balloons in solidarity with the child labourers in agriculture all around
the world. During the whole week of 11 June, the Eurest restaurants and
bars in the ILO building will display the WDACL 2007 posters and
distribute the postcards "Harvest for the Future: Agriculture without
Child Labour" to its customers (sponsored by the Compass Group).

In Rome events organized jointly by the ILO Rome Office, FAO and IFAD are:

- on 11 June in the evening: Opera-Ballet Performance on Child Labour by
the Ariston Proballet Sanremo Company at the at Teatro Olimpico, Roma
organized by Mediascena Europa (co-sponsored by the Ministry of Cultural
Heritage and Activities, FAO, ILO, IFAD, and the Region of Lazio);

- on 12 June in the morning at the FAO "Child Labour in Agriculture"
(FAO/IFAD/ILO organized event), followed by a press conference; in the
afternoon an ILO-Rome/Ministry of Social Solidarity/Ministry of Labour and
Social Security-organized Congress and Roundtable on Child Labour in
Italy: Scenarios and New Challenges (organized at the FAO).

Around the world, numerous events, discussions and other activities are
planned to mark the day and raise awareness on child labour in agriculture
and the new global partnership. Activities include:

- Roundtables, forums, workshops, seminars, trainings with policy makers,
trade unions, farmers, other UN organizations

- Press conferences, Radio and TV programmes, major awareness raising
campaigns in the media, including stories of working children in
newspapers,

- Children performing in drama, song and dance, marches of children
wearing t-shirts and pins against child labour , drawing and essay
competitions,

- Photo exhibitions, presentations of studies etc.

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. Many of the activities are organized jointly with the
new partner organizations and are located in major agricultural production
districts.

ILO Press release