Panel on Eliminating Worst Forms of Child Labour

From left to right: Ms. Christine Pintat, Assistant Secretary-General of IPU, Mrs. Najma Heptulla, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Council, Mr. Abdelwahed Radi, President of the 107th Inter-Parliamentary Conference, Mrs. Nezha Chekrouni, Moroccan Minister in charge of the Advancement of Women, the Protection of the Family and Children and the Integration of Handicapped Persons and Mr. Frans Roselaers, Director of ILO's IPEC Programme.

At Marrakech, IPU and the International Labour Organization (ILO) also strengthened their cooperation by launching a handbook for parliamentarians on "Eliminating the Worst Forms of Child Labour: A Practical Guide to ILO Convention No. 182" and by organising a round table discussion on "The worst forms of child labour". This round table was held under the patronage of Her Royal Highness, Princess Lalla Meryem, and was presided over by Mrs. Nezha Chekrouni, Minister in the Ministry of Labour, Vocational Training, Social Development and Solidarity with responsibility for the situation of women, the protection of the family and children and the integration of the physically challenged of Morocco.

They said

Mr Ahmed Akhchichine Moroccan National Observatory for Children's Rights
"Firm commitment among government politicians and legislators is necessary"

The combat to eradicate the worst forms of child labour as defined under Convention 182 concerns a particularly complex problem that affects almost all societies and which manifests itself differently from one environment to another. The responsibility falls on all those who have a deciding role in the international community, among whom parliamentarians, the representatives of peoples and nations, take pride of place. The role of parliamentarians in this endeavour cannot be reduced to mere legislative work of producing and adopting laws. To eradicate the worst forms of child labour, conditions must be set up so that public opinion expresses itself strongly on the subject at the international and national levels. Political will power and firm commitment among government politicians and legislators are also necessary. The members of civil society must also be involved, especially those who are most directly concerned by labour issues - the trade unions and the employers' organisations. Parliaments work together at the international level to ensure that the expectations of the countries and societies that have committed themselves to this struggle do not remain unanswered, and that mechanisms for assistance and partnership focussing on these development questions also make the problem of the eradication of the worst forms of child labour a priority concern.

Mrs Beth Mugo, MP, Kenya
President of the IPU Committee on parliamentary, juridical and human rights questions
"It is essential to promote transition of working children from work to school"

Parliamentarians have a crucial role to play as they have the capacity to influence policies of their governments. The programmes also call for commitment of substantial public funds which parliamentarians have to vote for in the national budget. At the social scene, retrogressive cultural practices which promote pre-determined discriminative gender roles should be outlawed and the society educated to discard them through public awareness campaigns. In addition to this, complementary policies and strategies to promote transition of working children from work to school are needed.

Mrs Yoko Kamikawa, MP, Japan
"It is also important to create a realistic environment for children"

The IPU should urge governments to conduct thorough investigations and to make the results public on child labour. It is also important to create a realistic environment for children in accordance with their actual circumstances; responsible action by the governments of all the countries concerned is essential. The IPU must promote the formulation and realisation of action plans by supporting the efforts of these countries from the sidelines. The IPU should continuously pursue this issue and give the widest possible publicity to our efforts and achievements.

"The taboos have to be dispelled, particularly the sexual exploitation of children"

Interview with Mrs Nezha Chekrouni, Moroccan Minister in charge of the Advancement of Women, the Protection of the Family and Children and the Integration of Handicapped Persons

Q: What were the objectives of this round table discussion?
Nezha Chekrouni: The objective was to identify the worst forms of child labour and define the various dimensions of this problem which is not only linked to the whole issue of children but also falls under a global and family umbrella concerning poverty and the status of women. Yesterday the point was made that in some families, children worked to enable their parents to break free of the spiral of poverty. Yet today it appears that child labour only serves to perpetuate poverty. It is a vicious circle which must be broken and the only way to do so is to eradicate the worst forms of child labour.

Q: How?
N.C.: A number of recommendations have been made with a view to forming alliances, for we believe that concerted action among the various actors and partners in society can in fact resolve this problem. Such action would be based on partnership among MPs, governments, and non-governmental organizations at the national level, and international organisations. It requires the establishment of a legislative mechanism capable of defending and protecting children as well as monitoring and implementing legal measures. Investments must also be made in education and there should be preventive and remedial measures which are adequate for dealing with the full reality of the situation. Education is the key to resolving this problem and all other problems involving children. It is therefore crucial to have a broad-based education system with a curriculum based on the rights of the child in order to secure the future of our countries, a future built on human potential capable of taking up the challenges at hand. And tomorrow's human potential is embodied in today's children. Young girls should also be given priority.

Q: Should the laws provide for more stringent measures in cases of abuse?
N.C.: First of all, reliable studies should be conducted to get a true picture of the reality of the situation. Similarly, the taboos attached to this issue have to be dispelled, particularly regarding the issue of sexual exploitation. We did this in Morocco within the framework of the African-Arab Forum which we organised last June. The silence has to be broken and laws must be passed but, above all, there has to be an awareness among all the social actors in order to work together. Parents must be involved in this issue because without the involvement of families and children themselves, the work cannot be accomplished. Social ills are closely linked to poverty, but poverty is not only economic or financial. It is also cultural. These facets are indissociable. We are faced with a chain in which all the links are important.