Human Rights Watch (HRW) is one of the world’s leading independent organisations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights. By focusing international attention where human rights are violated, the organisation aims to give voice to the oppressed and hold oppressors accountable for their crimes. HRW conducts rigorous, objective investigations and strategic, targeted advocacy to build pressure for action and raise the cost of human rights abuse. The organisation is a member of the US Child Labor Coalition which is part of the Global March family. HRW has been closely involved in the work in the ILO over the last two years on the proposed Convention and Recommendation for Domestic Work and has worked diligently with participating stakeholders and the ILO to try and ensure that the text of the new instruments will be as effective as possible in protecting the rights of domestic workers and eliminating child domestic labour.

The work of the ILO’s Tripartite Domestic Work Committee will conclude on 10 June 2011 in Geneva, Switzerland, at the International Labour Conference (ILC). The new Convention and Recommendation will then be put forward for adoption on 16 June 2011 and could mark the launch of a major international instrument to underpin renewed efforts to combat child domestic labour. To make this occasion and to coincide with the 2011 World Day Against Child Labour (12 June) in the ILC today which focuses on the theme of hazardous work – a characteristic of child domestic labour – HRW has issued a press release to reinforce calls for adoption of the new Convention and to reach out in solidarity to the millions of child domestic workers worldwide.

To download a copy of the HRW press statement, click here