11 June 2010
GENEVA -- The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states renewed Friday their commitment to working with the International Labor Organization (ILO) in order to reach the targets of the International Program on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC).
Addressing the 99th International Labour Conference (June 2-18, 2010), Kuwaiti Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Mohammad Al-Afasi said: "We stand firm on our deeply-rooted social and moral convictions based on the values of Islam and humanitarian heritage." Al-Afasi, the current president of the council of the GCC ministers of social affairs and justice, was speaking on behalf of the GCC six members.
"The GCC countries adopted policies and programs to protect children against manipulation into hard work and humiliation; these policies highlight the role of families in strengthening the social texture and caring for individuals particularly children," he said.
"Out of their moral convictions, the GCC joined the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention 182 concerning the prohibition and immediate action for elimination of works forms of child labor, adopted by the ILO in its 87th conference here on June 17, 1999," Al-Afasi recalled.
"The policies of the GCC countries helped create an integrated system of legislations that prevent children from being entrapped in poverty and need.
"The legal systems of the GCC countries incriminate exploitation of children in labor while enshrining social security and easy access to education for children; the umbrella of social protection covers all individuals notably the elderly, sick, orphans, widows and people with special needs," the Kuwaiti minister, whose country holds rotating GCC Presidency, underscored.
"The GCC countries back up all sincere efforts being made by the ILO to help a large number of developing countries meet the needs of their poor populations," he added.
Al-Afasi urged scaling up the collective efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor worldwide.
In its quadrennial Global Report on child labour, the ILO said that the global number of child laborers had declined from 222 million to 215 million, or three percent, over the period 2004 to 2008, representing a "slowing down of the global pace of reduction." The report also expressed concern that the global economic crisis could "further brake" progress toward the goal of eliminating the worst forms of child labour by 2016.
GENEVA -- The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states renewed Friday their commitment to working with the International Labor Organization (ILO) in order to reach the targets of the International Program on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC).
Addressing the 99th International Labour Conference (June 2-18, 2010), Kuwaiti Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Mohammad Al-Afasi said: "We stand firm on our deeply-rooted social and moral convictions based on the values of Islam and humanitarian heritage." Al-Afasi, the current president of the council of the GCC ministers of social affairs and justice, was speaking on behalf of the GCC six members.
"The GCC countries adopted policies and programs to protect children against manipulation into hard work and humiliation; these policies highlight the role of families in strengthening the social texture and caring for individuals particularly children," he said.
"Out of their moral convictions, the GCC joined the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention 182 concerning the prohibition and immediate action for elimination of works forms of child labor, adopted by the ILO in its 87th conference here on June 17, 1999," Al-Afasi recalled.
"The policies of the GCC countries helped create an integrated system of legislations that prevent children from being entrapped in poverty and need.
"The legal systems of the GCC countries incriminate exploitation of children in labor while enshrining social security and easy access to education for children; the umbrella of social protection covers all individuals notably the elderly, sick, orphans, widows and people with special needs," the Kuwaiti minister, whose country holds rotating GCC Presidency, underscored.
"The GCC countries back up all sincere efforts being made by the ILO to help a large number of developing countries meet the needs of their poor populations," he added.
Al-Afasi urged scaling up the collective efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor worldwide.
In its quadrennial Global Report on child labour, the ILO said that the global number of child laborers had declined from 222 million to 215 million, or three percent, over the period 2004 to 2008, representing a "slowing down of the global pace of reduction." The report also expressed concern that the global economic crisis could "further brake" progress toward the goal of eliminating the worst forms of child labour by 2016.
© KUNA (Kuwait News Agency) 2010
