On the International Day Against Child Labour, the International Labor Organization and UNICEF call

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[size=52]On the International Day Against Child Labour, the International Labor Organization and UNICEF call for…[/size]

 
[size=45]Baghdad, 12 June 2022.  - On the World Day Against Child Labour, and this year's theme “Comprehensive Social Protection to End Child Labour”, the International Labor Organization and UNICEF are calling on stakeholders to work together to build an inclusive environment for the protection of children in Iraq. Where children constitute the majority of about 4.5 million Iraqis who are at risk of poverty due to the impact of the conflict and the Corona pandemic, one child in two (48.8%) faces multiple forms of deprivation, whether in education, health, living conditions, or financial security. It is obvious that the disruption of services and the adoption of negative coping mechanisms by poor families will lead to an increase in deprivation and inequality, especially for the most vulnerable children, including those affected by conflict, the displaced, in addition to those in the host communities. [/size]
[size=45]Child labor has increased in Iraq in recent years due to armed conflict, displacement and socio-economic challenges, and with the spread of the pandemic, children’s education has shifted to distance learning, which has increased the risk of dropping out of school and joining the labor market. Therefore, expanding the scope of social protection and promoting equal access to quality social services with a focus on education, health and child protection are central policy directions in response to reducing child labour .[/size]
[size=45]The Fifth Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labor, which was held in Durban last month, concluded with a call for urgent action against child labour, noting that “the consequences of the COVID -19 pandemic  , armed conflict, food, humanitarian and environmental crises threaten many years of progress against child labour.” [/size]
[size=45]Child labor, especially its worst forms, deprives them of their childhood and their education. It also increases their risk of exposure to serious risks, disease and exploitation .[/size]
[size=45]On the World Day Against Child Labour, the International Labor Organization and UNICEF affirm their joint commitments in strengthening the partnership with the Government of Iraq, to ​​respond effectively and accelerate reforms to protect children at risk and their families from the worst forms of child labour, and preserve their well-being .[/size]
[size=45]It is worth noting that Iraq is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Iraq has also ratified  the ILO Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138), and the ILO Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention, 1999 (No. 182), which are necessary to eliminate child labour .  Moreover, Iraq's recent participation in the Durban Conference was encouraging, as it showed a strong national interest towards addressing the worst forms of child labour . [/size]
[size=45]The preparation and development of the Child Labor Monitoring System, supported by the ILO, is funded by the European Regional Program for Development and Protection for Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq  (RDPP II)  and is being implemented with national partners in Iraq. This system is considered an essential tool in addressing child labour. It identifies monitoring systems for vulnerable children at risk of child labour, and provides them with the necessary support and services; Whether in terms of accessing education and psychosocial services, or providing their parents and caregivers with opportunities that can improve their employability and improve their livelihoods. The International Labor Organization and UNICEF also provided a skills development program for 3,781 children , young women and men of the age group (10-24 years), in addition to employability skills by educating them about labor law and human rights standards at work .[/size]
[size=45]Following the successful trial of the Child Labor Monitoring System in Nineveh and Dohuk, ILO and UNICEF are jointly supporting the government with capacity building and technical support for the adoption and implementation of the system across the country and specifically in areas where child labor is prevalent .  In addition, the partnership between the ILO and the Regional Development Program has helped establish and revitalize centers in Mosul and Dohuk to enable children to catch up and go back to school. These centers serve as a safe, friendly space for children removed from child labour, enabling them to participate in age-appropriate activities that can help them return to formal education .[/size]
[size=45]Since 2021, the ILO, UNICEF and WFP, with the support of the European Union and in partnership with the Government of Iraq, have been implementing the Social Protection Reform Program to improve the quality and coverage of government-funded social protection programs for the poorest and most vulnerable children and families .[/size]
[size=45]On this occasion, the need for a multisectoral response must be acknowledged, with a focus on expanding social protection, including social security for the most vulnerable families, and increasing investments in services such as education, health and child protection to ensure that all children in Iraq enjoy equal opportunities to grow in a safe and friendly environment. This, in turn, is essential in enabling children to develop their skills and perceptions and prepare them to meet the new challenges of the world, especially in its current transitional situation.[/size]
 
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