Children’s World Congress on Child Labor

May 10-13, 2004

Florence, Italy

What is the Children’s World Congress?

The Children’s World Congress (CWC) is the first ever global youth-convened congress on child labor.  In May 2004, 500 young people between the ages of 10 and 17 will gather in Florence to share their perspectives on child labor, engage in policy making, and strengthen their leadership skills in directing the youth movement against child labor. 

Current and former child laborers from throughout the world and student group representatives who have shown commitment to the struggle against child labor will participate. Youth delegates will be chosen through a democratic national process. 

Why Is the Children’s World Congress Necessary?

Five years ago, children and adults from around the world marched against child labor.  The march across five continents culminated in Geneva, where these voices were instrumental in building worldwide support for a new International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor.  The convention was unanimously adopted by ILO members, and since then more than 143 countries have ratified it.  

Despite enthusiastic ratifications, neither ILO Conventions 182 nor 138 (Minimum Age for Employment) has been fully implemented, as the treaties require.  Moreover, ten years ago, 155 governments promised education for all by 2015, and not much progress on this front has been made.  Despite these agreements, today, more than 115 million children are not in school and more than 211 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 are working.

Just as youth took the initiative five years ago, so will they again in 2004 at the Children’s World Congress.  At the meeting, they will develop a platform for worldwide, youth-driven action to press international and national efforts toward integrating world resources and responses on poverty, child labor, and education.  Their platform will include the development of strategies to enhance national support for implementation of ILO Conventions 138 and 182, as well as the 2015 commitment for education for all children.

CWC Objectives:

  • Hold the first-ever children’s global conference where children and youth will direct the activities, make policy decisions, and prepare for follow-up initiatives.  This event will set the foundation for these youth being prepared to lead and direct the international youth movement against child labor.

  • Enhance and strengthen youth participation and decision-making. The former child laborers and youth advocates will demonstrate leadership by creating an Action Plan that can be presented to governments, as well as to international stakeholders, such as the World Bank and the ILO.

  • Build a grassroots network among children and youth and raise public awareness and action around the world against child labor and in support of free, basic education for all children. 

  • To establish a standing youth committee – selected by CWC participants – to continue to represent youth at national, regional, and international discussions on child labor.

U.S. Responsibility and Activities

The Child Labor Coalition (CLC) is responsible for planning and implementing U.S. participation at the Children’s World Congress.  This will include the following responsibilities:

  • developing and implementing a fair and democratic selection process to choose up to five youth participants from the U.S.;
  • conducting national awareness-raising on child labor leading up to and following the CWC;
  • facilitating the development of a national action plan by U.S. youth that will provide direction for the development of international, united youth policy and action in child labor;
  • securing opportunities for follow-up activities by the U.S. youth participants to share CWC outcomes to the media, legislators, and government officials upon their return from the CWC; and
  • securing funds to cover the North American preparatory activities, as well as the travel expenses of U.S. youth delegates (and their required chaperones) to the CWC.

About the Organizers

The Global March Against Child Labor (GM) is the world’s largest social movement against child exploitation, with 2,000 partners in more than 140 countries.  Its roots date from 1998, when hundreds of NGOs organized a march by children and adults across five continents.  After the march, these groups continued to work together as the Global March Against Child Labor, headquartered in New Delhi, India and led by Kailash Satyarthi, Chair of the South Asian Coalition Against Child Labor.

GM member Child Labor Coalition (CLC) is spearheading the planning and implementation of U.S. participation in the CWC.  Established in 1989, the CLC is the largest coalition on child labor in the United States.  Its 40 non-governmental organization members are committed to protecting working minors and ending child labor exploitation in the U.S. and abroad.  The CLC is coordinated by the National Consumers League, a non-profit, membership organization based in Washington, DC, which also acts as the CLC’s fiscal agent.

For More Information About the CWC

Global March Against Child Labor
L-6, Kalkaji
New Delhi – 110019   INDIA
Phone: 91-011-26224899
Fax: 91-011-26236818

www.globalmarch.org

Child Labor Coalition
1701 K Street, NW, Suite 1200
Washington, DC  20006
Phone:  202-835-3323
Fax:  202-835-0747

www.stopchildlabor.org

 

 

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