Mission
"The
Global March Against Child Labour is a movement to mobilise worldwide
efforts to protect and promote the rights
of all children, especially the right to
receive a free, meaningful education and
to be free from economic exploitation and
from performing any work that is likely
to be harmful to the child's physical, mental,
spiritual, moral or social development."
Global March Against Child Labour is a movement born out
of hope and the need felt by thousands of people across
the globe - the desire to set children free from servitude.
The
Global March movement began with a worldwide march when
thousands of people marched together to jointly put forth
the message against child labour. The march, which started
on January 17, 1998, touched every corner of the globe,
built immense awareness and led to high level of participation
from the masses. This march finally culminated at the
ILO Conference in Geneva. The voice of the marchers was
heard and reflected in the draft of the ILO
Convention against the worst forms of child labour.
The following year, the Convention was unanimously adopted
at the ILO Conference in Geneva. Today, with 150 countries
having ratified the convention so far, it has become the
fastest ratified convention in the history of ILO. A large
role in this was played by the Global March through our
member partners.
With ILO conventions 138 and 182 as well as the UN Convention
on Rights of the Child forming the base of our movement,
the Global March also perceives education, and the Right
to free and compulsory education of good quality for all
children, as non negotiable. Therefore the Global March
also considers the EFA goals under the Dakar Framework
an equally important international instrument and pushes
for governments to achieve the goal of education for all.
Working on numbers is one thing, and direct efforts to
end child labour have always been a part of the Global
March partner programmes. The Global March seeks to eliminate
child labour by questioning, attacking and changing the
very systems that compel children to work at the global,
regional and national levels. What is key therefore, in
the fight to end child labour, is the need to advocate
for policy changes. The Global March works on a three
pronged strategy, or what we call a triangular
paradigm. The three key processes affecting
the future of the world, in particular our children, are
the elimination of child labour, Education For All and
poverty alleviation. Bringing together policy and action
for a unified response to child labour, illiteracy and
poverty is a priority for the Global March.
The dedicated partners
of the Global March movement form an effective network
around the world. Acting as vigilant observers and lobbying
with governments in their region, they form the backbone
of the movement. The Global March International Secretariat
is located in New Delhi, India. |
