Conference reinforces goal of eradicating the worst forms of child labor by 2016

Criado em 11/10/13 11h05 e atualizado em 11/10/13 11h07
Por Carolina Sarres Edição:Carolina Pimentel / Nira Foster Fonte:Agência Brasil

Brasília – The Brasília Declaration, the final document of the 3rd Global Conference on Child Labour, which took place this week in Brazil's capital city, reaffirmed the nations' commitment to eradicate the worst forms of child labor by 2016, although the International Labour Organization (ILO) believes that the goal set in 2010 can hardly be achieved within the target deadline.

The declaration acknowledges the need to step up national and international efforts in combating the exploitation of children and adolescent labor.

The final document had been expected to set forth new commitments for the countries as of 2016 – the deadline to meet the goals established at the Hague Conference in 2010 – but it limited itself to maintaining and reinforcing existing efforts, including strengthening and improving public services; promoting cooperation between governments, employers and workers; formalizing employment relations; enhancing statistical methods, and engaging civil society in the issue.

An estimated 168 million children are engaged in some form of paid work worldwide – 85 million of whom in its worst forms. In Brazil alone, there are more than 1.4 million children and adolescents in the labor market.

“We are encouraged to start work early on in our very homes. What can we do about it? Although our parents want the best for us, they cannot always be right in everything. If we want a better future, we must not repeat the same mistakes adults make today,” said 16-year-old Wesley Busatto, a youth representative who attended the conference.

The conference topics ranged from conditional cash programs to education to social welfare policies to international cooperation. Over a thousand delegates from 153 countries, including 37 cabinet members, attended the event.

In the event opening, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder urged that education should be strengthened so as to combat the exploitation of child and adolescent labor. Brazil's president, Dilma Rousseff, called on all nations to commit to eradicating child labor.

Editor: Carolina Pimentel / Nira Foster
Translator: Mayra Borges