Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
New York City (Agenzia Fides) - According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) 152 million children between 5 and 14 years of age are victims of child labor. Most belong to the most marginalized social groups and come from very poor families. In addition, 67 million children do not attend primary school or the first cycle of secondary education. In May 2010, representatives of 97 countries took part in a conference on child labor held in the Hague, where ia road map to eliminate the worst forms of child exploitation in 2016 was agreed. A key element of this document provides for new measures to improve access to free education, compulsory and of quality for all children. However, if the current trend does not change, the international community will not achieve the Millennium Development Goal of providing universal primary education by 2015.
In this regard, the International Programme on the Eradication of Child Labour (IPEC), ILO, has launched a project designed to address this issue by promoting education as a principal instrument. The main objective is to strengthen the bonds within the policies of education and child labor, organizing initiatives so that the phenomenon of child victims or those at risk have more opportunities to access education. Currently, the project will be launched in four countries of different levels of economic and social development of different continents: Bolivia, Indonesia, Mali and Uganda. To facilitate access to quality education for all children is the main purpose. To deal with this scourge will mean greater school attendance and improving access to education, which will certainly help to prevent child labor. Without a minimum basic education, children are more vulnerable. The project will see the cooperation of national educational networks, social workers and civil society organizations . New resources to facilitate the orientation of those involved in training programs for illiterate adolescents will be created. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 13/2/2012)
