International

ILO Adopts Child Labor Convention

By Wendy Lubetkin - US Information Agency European Correspondent

Child slavery, prostitution and hazardous work have been outlawed in Geneva

Geneva -- Members of the International Labor Organization unanimously adopted an international treaty July 17 banning the worst forms of child labor, including slavery, trafficking in children, and prostitution.

The ILO's 415 delegations -- its 174 member states, and all of its labor union and employer representatives -- voted in favor of the "Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention 1999." There were no abstentions.

One day earlier, President Clinton strongly backed the treaty in a speech to the ILO, calling it "a true breakthrough for the children of the world."

"I am proud to say that the United States will support your convention," Clinton told delegates to the International Labor Conference in Geneva. "After I return home, I will send it to the U.S. Senate for ratification, and I ask all other countries to ratify it, as well."

Following the vote, ILO Director-General Juan Somavia announced that the ILO plans to immediately launch a worldwide campaign for ratification.

"With this convention, we now have the power to make the urgent eradication of the worst forms of child labor a new global cause," Somavia said. "To those who exploit children, forcing them into slavery, debt bondage, prostitution, pornography or war, we are saying, 'Stop it now!'."

Many nations, including the United States, have promised to take early action to ratify the convention. Only two ratifications are required before it enters into force.

The new convention applies to children under 18. It defines the worst forms of child labor as all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage or compulsory labor; forced or compulsory recruitment of children for use in armed conflict; use of a child for prostitution or the production of pornography; using children for illicit activities, such as the trafficking of drugs; and work which is likely to harm the health or safety of children.

The ILO estimates that as many as 60 million children under the age of 14 are engaged in the worst forms of child labor.

Somavia said he would make the new convention one of the ILO's "Core Conventions" which cover fundamental rights for workers of all ages such as freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, the elimination of forced labor and an end to discrimination.

States which ratify the treaty will be required to "design and implement programs of action" to eliminate the worst forms of child labor and to establish mechanisms to monitor implementation.

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