Please join the Congressional Human Rights Caucus for a Roundtable discussion on Efforts by International Organizations to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labor. The discussion will take place in room 328A of the Russell Senate Office Building from 11 a.m. -noon
Last year, the International Labor Organization's (ILO) global report, The End of Child Labor,. Within Reach, detailed the progress being made on reducing the worst forms of child labor. The ILO projects that if the current pace of decline in child labor were to be maintained, child labor could be eliminated, in most of its worst forms, in 10 years -by 2016.
Today, 218 million child laborers, many of whom are trapped in the worst forms of child labor, such as prostitution, armed conflicts, and slavery are still suffering. While the United States government and international organizations such as the World Bank and UNICEF have programs designed to reduce abusive and exploitative child labor, it will require all of these entities working together if we are to reach the goal of ending the worst forms of child labor by the year 2016.
Additionally, Article 8 ofILO Convention 182, "On the Prohibition of the Worst Forms of Child Labor," which has been ratified by 132 countries, calls for enhanced cooperation between international organizations to focus on social and economic development, poverty eradication and universal education that are the building blocks to eliminating the worst forms of child labor.
The briefing will explore each organization's child labor programs and ways that these entities can enhance their cooperation in the future.
I. Panel:
The Honorable Elaine Chao, US Department of Labor (invited)
II. Panel:
Juan Somavia, Director General, International Labor Organization (invited)
Paul Welfowitz, President, World Bank (invited)
Ann M. Veneman, Executive Director, UNICEF (invited)
We look forward to seeing you at this important briefing. If you have any questions, please call Sarah Burns (Rep. Lantos) at x5-3531 or Rosemary Gutierrez (Senator Harkin) at x4-3254. For media inquiries, please contact Jennifer Mullin (Senator Harkin) at x4-3254. |
