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Girls a Chance: Tackling Child Labour, a Key to the Future
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GENEVA (ILO News) – The global financial crisis could push an increasing
number of children, particularly girls, into child labour, according to a new
report issued by the International Labour Office (ILO) for the World Day
Against Child Labour on June 12.
The ILO report, entitled Give Girls a
Chance: Tackling Child Labour, a Key to the Future
(Note
1), notes that while recent global estimates indicate the number of
children involved in child labour has been falling, the financial crisis
threatens to erode this progress.
“We have seen some real progress in reducing child
labour. The policies chosen in the present crisis will be a test of national
and global commitment to take this fight forward.” said ILO Director-General
Juan Somavia.
The report says the danger of girls being forced
into child labour is linked to evidence that in many countries families give
preference to boys when making decisions on education of children (Note
2). It states that because of the increase in poverty as result of the
crisis poor families with a number of children may have to make choices as to
which children stay in school. In cultures in which a higher value is placed on
education of male children, girls risk being taken out of school, and are then
likely to enter the workforce at an early age.
Other factors which could push up the numbers in
child labour include cuts in national education budgets, and a decline in
remittances of migrant workers, as these remittances often help to keep
children in school.
This year’s World Day against Child Labour also
coincides with the tenth anniversary of ILO Convention No. 182 on the
elimination of the worst forms of child labour.
“With 169 ratifications we are now just 14 short
of universal ratification by our member States” said Mr. Somavia. “It is a
remarkable expression of commitment. This Convention calls for special
attention to the situation of girls and we want to highlight the particular
risks that girls face during this crisis. Protecting girls – and all children –
from child labour calls for integrated responses that include jobs for parents,
and social protection measures that help them to keep both girls and boys in
school. Access to basic education and training for girls and boys must also be
part of the solutions for the future.”
The ILO report says the most recent global
estimate indicated that more than 100 million girls are involved in child
labour, and many are exposed to some of its worst forms. Girls face a number of
particular problems that justify special attention, including:
· Much work undertaken by girls is hidden from
public view, which creates particular dangers. Girls make up the overwhelming
number of children in domestic work in third party households and there are
regular reports of the abuse of child domestic workers;
· In their own homes, girls take on household
chores to a much greater extent than boys. Combined with economic activity
outside the household, this imposes a “double burden” that increases the risk
of girls dropping out of school; and,
· In many societies girls are in an inferior
and vulnerable position and are more likely to lack basic education. This
seriously restricts their future opportunities.
The report highlights the importance of investing
in the education of girls as an effective way of tackling poverty. Educated
girls are more likely to earn more as adults, marry later in life, have fewer
and healthier children and have decision-making power within the household.
Educated mothers are also more likely to ensure that their own children are
educated, thereby helping to avoid future child labour.
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