Three-year programme to combat child labour launched

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Norwegian Government on Tuesday signed second phase of a three-year programme to mobilise public and policy action through the national media to combat the child labour in Pakistan here at PTV Headquarters.
The programme is designed to raise public awareness on the issues of child labour, support national legal and policy actions and to create a conducive environment against child labour.
The programme interventions comprise of developing the capacity of media personnel for institutional strengthening to address the issue of child labour, developing and airing print and electronic media products, including dramas, documentaries and discussion programmes and establishing a network of media personnel for action against child labour.
An in-built monitoring system called 'Media Watch' will determine the public response to the programmes.
Speaking on this occasion, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Durrani welcomed the phase-II programme, highlighting the influence of the media for shaping public opinion on matters of social issues.
He said that the media had a very important and responsible role to play in ensuring that correct information was disseminated and that the government's considerable specific legislative, policy and programmes pertaining to the eradication of child labour from the country and within the frameworks of education for all, poverty reduction and the MDGs are duly communicated to the public.
"The government is fully committed to address all the issues regarding child labour. Public and private sector media would be fully mobilised regarding the awareness campaign to combat child labour and the awareness drive would be well-defined and target-oriented as this initiative is for the betterment of our future generations," said Senator Durrani.
"Now with the recent ratification of ILO Convention 138 on Minimum Age and the earlier ratification of ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, it is more imperative that policy makers, stakeholders and the public understand the issues of child labour and take appropriate action at their levels," he said.
Federal Secretary of Information, Shahid Rafi expressed his commitment towards the effective implementation of the project through provision of free airtime for the various media products and appreciated the technical support of the ILO.
He reaffirmed the government's seriousness to eradicate the issue of child labour and said that mass awareness raising was indeed one of the most important approaches so that public misnomers and misunderstandings are dispelled and public action is generated.
He also emphasised the importance of the various capacity building and institutionalisation activities and opined that these would lead to future sustainability.
Director ILO Office for Pakistan, Donglin Li emphasised the relevance, importance and timeliness of the project in several regards. Firstly because it supports national efforts towards the elimination of the worst forms of child labour.
Secondly, he said in the international trade environment regulated by the global compact and corporate social responsibility, child labour in any sector in the supply chain could be damaging to a country's trade objectives.
And finally because both the government and ILO maintain close editorial rights of the design and content of the media products to ensure quality, avoid any sort of stereo-typing and sensationalism.
"All products are enriched by empirical research generated from ILO projects and this is important as it ensures that the real issues are brought forward and practical solutions are suggested," he said.
He informed the gathering that ILO's largest technical co-operation programme in Pakistan works in the sector of the elimination of child labour.
Norwegian Charge d'Affaires Alf Arne Ramslien said that he had noted with keen interest and appreciation the high priority that Pakistan was giving to addressing the challenges linked to child labour within the national programme of action.
He also noted the key role of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in this programme.
"The media can play a key role in highlighting the challenges and its socio-economic consequences, besides exerting influence at the policy level.
Norway, being signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, is pleased to be partner in this endeavour together with the ILO and Pakistan," he added.
He informed the audience that Norway was the first country to establish the Child Ombud in 1981, which reflected resolve of Norwegian people and the government to eliminate child labour.
He also called upon the corporate sector to fulfil their corporate social responsibility by discouraging child labour. He also applauded the role of civil society in combating child labour in partnership with the government and international agencies. He encouraged the people not to prefer short economic gains to the future of their children and future of the nation.
He thanked the ILO, Mol&B and other stakeholders for their sincere and continued efforts against child labour.