ICFTU OnLine – June 12, 2006

Brussels, June 12, 2006 (ICFTU Online)On the occasion of the World Day Against Child Labour, the ICFTU is today launching a video portrait of Jonathon, a 12 year old child labourer from Peru who is one of many children benefiting from a union-sponsored program that has helped him find his way back to school.

Guy Ryder, the General Secretary of the ICFTU commented:  “Today we mark yet another World Day Against Child Labour in the shadow of the knowledge that there are some 218 million children like Jonathon whose lives are profoundly affected by the fact that instead of going to school they have to go to work.”

“The tragedy of child labour is that not only does it ruin childhoods, the physical and mental health of children, but it also locks them and their families into a tragic cycle of poverty. By missing out on school these children are almost forever denied the chance to live a better life than their parents.”

“We know what works: a quality education system and decent work for adults above all else is the only way sustainable and long-term changes can occur that will see child labour vanquished globally. These require political will and commitment from all governments and institutions, and today we reiterate the international trade union movement’s resolve to play our part,” he concluded.

The video-portrait is accompanied by two spotlight interviews with trade unionists from the Moroccan and Dutch trade unions who are responsible for an innovative program which seeks to get children out of work and into school.

To watch the video portrait on Jonathan (Peru – Warma Tarinakuy) click here.

Click here to read the spotlight interview with with Mohamed MDAGHR from the AOB – Netherlands. 

To read the spotlight interview with with Majda Fahchouch from SNE/AOb – Morocco click here.

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