Global March member Education International (EI) has recently published the resolutions adopted at its 6th World Congress held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 22 to 26 July 2011, for download from its web site. Among its key policy statements is a resolution on child labour the lack of adequate progress in tackling this issue. The resolution highlights the links between the increasing incidence of child labour and the lack of decent work for adults and the absence of schools or of education of sufficient quality.
Resonating with the adoption of ILO Convention No. 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers in June 2011, the EI resolution also underlines the importance of tackling the gender dimension of child labour as this is often of a hidden nature. There is significant emphasis on the role of education in preventing child labour, including the positive impact of educated mothers in the prevention of child labour and in the schooling of children, especially girls.
The resolution goes on to call on EI and its member organisations to continue to fight against child labour, with a specific focus on the provision of quality education. It also calls on EI to provide tools for action to and disseminate materials and good practices among teacher trade unions and their members. The document encourages stronger collaboration with the ITUC, ILO, UNICEF and UNESCO and with other trade unions and non-governmental organisations to tackle child labour at the national, regional and international levels.
Global March Chairperson Kailash Satyarthi welcomed the resolution, stating: “Education International and its member organisations have been strong and committed supporters of the international fight against child labour for many, many years and have been key strategic partners of the Global March having played prominent roles in the original March in the late 1990s. Teachers and their organisations are at the core of the Education For All and child labour elimination initiatives and we commend their continued commitment to the cause and acknowledge that their work and efforts are an inspiration to us all.”
To visit the EI web page to download the resolution on Child Labour and all Congress resolutions and documents, click here
