International Terre des Hommes demands determined action against child exploitation

Project : TDHIF in Europe 10 May 2010 | child exploitation child rights education labor

On 10th and 11th of May, the international child rights organisation “Terre des Hommes” is participating in a conference on exploitative forms of child labour in The Hague, Netherlands. There, the International Labour Organization (ILO) is calling governments, employers and workers organisations to reinforce the fight against the worst forms of child labour. In 2000 the ILO adopted Convention 182 to protect children against hazardous work, slavery, prostitution and recruitment as soldier. Although, according to the ILO there is some progress, there are still approximately 200 millions girls and boys working worldwide under exploitative conditions.

Terre des Hommes welcomes the ILO conference that highlights the scandal of child exploitation and demands determined actions against it. “Politicians, economists and civil society must get involved in the fight against child exploitation for those children who sadly suffer exploitation and enslavement day after day. Anyone who can change something in this unbearable situation must become aware of the fact that girls and boys can grow up in dignity” says Barbara Küppers, the Terre des Hommes child labour expert.

As a consequence of the economic crisis and the drastic increase of the food prices in developing and middle-income countries, more and more families cannot afford the school attendance of their children any more. About 72 million children worldwide have no access to elementary school, and they and their families must accept every kind of work in order to survive.

Terre des Hommes appeals on governments participating in the Hague Conference to ensure that education is accessible, safe and relevant. Also, child protection systems should be enhanced to prevent children from entering one of the worst forms of child labour. Legislation to criminalize those that exploit children needs to be introduced where it is not yet in existence and strongly enforced once it is.