The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the International Labour Office (ILO) are launching (in English, French and Spanish) a Handbook for parliamentarians entitled Eliminating the worst forms of child labour: A practical guide to ILO Convention No. 182.

Developed jointly by the ILO's International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) and the IPU, the Handbook is designed to make parliamentarians fully aware of this complex, multi-faceted problem and the economic, social and even cultural issues involved. It also seeks to enhance their understanding of the principles of Convention No. 182, an instrument which has seen the fastest ratification rate in ILO history, and to draw their attention to the means at their disposal as lawmakers and political leaders for promoting the implementation of this fundamental instrument, not only by ratifying it without reservation but above all by adjusting national legislation accordingly and by adopting the necessary budgets to create viable alternatives.

"At present, tens of millions of children are hired to do unbearable kinds of work which deprive them of their childhood and endanger their health, sometimes even their lives. None of these children have ever had the slightest chance to realise their potential. This poses a genuine challenge, and even though the ILO is proud of States' response to its Convention No. 182, it does not relate the fight to combat the worst forms of child labour with purely juridical action. This struggle presupposes a vision of society and development, and calls for a long-term strategy involving all political and social partners", said Mr. Juan Somavia, ILO Director-General.

"Child labour is an essential issue for many of our countries. Its worst forms cannot be made to disappear simply by the stroke of a pen; rather, we must create a veritable coalition of political and social forces and promote practices which have proven effective. It is the future of our countries which concerns us", added the President of the IPU Council and Deputy Chairperson of the Indian Senate, Mrs. Najma Heptulla.

The Handbook will be presented to the ILO Governing Body on 14 March. On 20 March, it will also be introduced to the world parliamentary community through a Panel on the worst forms of child labour, organised jointly by the two organisations on the occasion of the statutory IPU Conference scheduled to take place in Marrakech (Morocco) from 17 to 23 March 2002 at the invitation of the Moroccan Parliament. The Panel, which aims to mobilise strong political and parliamentary support for reaching the goals set out in Convention No. 182, will be inaugurated by H.R.H. Princess Lalla Meriem and moderated by parliamentarians and experts.

The IPU and the ILO hope that the Handbook will be useful not only for MPs but for all those engaged in furthering the cause of sustainable development and human rights: governments, employers' and workers' organisations, civil society organisations, and anyone wishing to become involved in the movement to end the exploitation of children.

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Established in 1889 and with its Headquarters in Geneva, the IPU, the oldest multilateral organisation, currently has 142 affiliated national parliaments and five regional assemblies as associate members. The organisation of the world's parliaments also has a Liaison Office with the United Nations in New York. The International Labour Organization, founded in 1919, has 175 members. A UN Specialized Agency, it has a tripartite structure and a mandate to promote social justice. In 1992, it set up the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) with a view to gradually eradicating this evil worldwide.

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CONTACTS
IPU: Mrs. Luisa Ballin IPU Information Officer Tel. +4122 919 41 16/27 Fax: +4122 919 41 60 E-mail: lb@mail.ipu.org or cbl@mail.ipu.org.	ILO: Mr Tom Netter ILO Information Service Tel. +4122 799 79 73 Fax: +4122 799 85 77 E-mail: netter@ilo.org