SRSG on VAC calls on all stakeholders to join in the preparation of the Third Global Conference on Child Labour

New Yor, 8 July 2013 - "Across the world, violence affects millions of children who are working, both legally and illegally. Violence against children and child labour are closely related. Violence in the home, at school or in institutions can push children into child labour. For them, work becomes a way to survive, even if it is hazardous or exploitative. The United Nations Study on Violence against Children recognized the high incidence of violence in the workplace, including ill-treatment by employers and sexual violence of child workers; and it noted that “of all the settings where children are exposed to violence, the workplace is among the most difficult to address.” That is why violence against children in the work place is a priority for my mandate as Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children.

Child labour, in particular in its worst forms, is indeed a major obstacle to safeguarding children’s enjoyment of human rights in a violent free environment. For this reason, I have been a strong advocate for the implementation of the Roadmap for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour, adopted in 2010 in The Hague, which calls for their elimination by the year 2016.

The Third Global Conference on Child Labour, to be held in Brasilia, Brazil, from 8-10 October 2013, will be an opportunity for reflection and joint dialogue on the progress made since the adoption of the International Labour Organisation’s Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, and to propose measures to accelerate actions towards the 2016 goal, highlighting the best practices of countries from five continents.

One of the essential tools for the success of this conference is the virtual platform "Dialogues on Child Labour" (www.childlabourdialogues.org). The platform provides an excellent avenue to contribute to the Third Global Conference on Child Labour. Its purpose is to mobilize international networking and open a public forum to participate in the Conference. The aim is to discuss the main challenges to the eradication of child labour around the world, and allow for the exchange of practices and lessons learned from experience to eliminate child labour, particularly its worst forms.

I encourage all partners and stakeholders in the global campaign to end violence against children to join the virtual platform Dialogues on Child Labour and contribute to the success of this important Global Conference."