The Project for Eradicating the Worst Forms of Child Labour

Partnership is the core strategy shaping this effort to develop a context of openness and dialogue between the parties concerned that - it is hoped - will lead to concrete strategies and real change to protect children's rights. One such tool is the gathering of prominent, passionate people to discuss ways forward. For instance, The 1st National Conference of the EU-ILO-MoLSS Project for the Eradicating the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Turkey was held in Istanbul in March 2007. Protocol speeches were delivered, followed by a panel discussion on the "Roles and Importance of Social Partners in the Eradication of Child Labour".

One such concrete action is the actual withdrawal of working children from jobs that are hazardous for their health and safety; that cause problems for their physical, psychological, and social development; and that prevent their attendance of or success in education. To this end, Provincial Project Coordination Offices (PPCOs) have been set up, based on the conviction that the problem of child labour cannot be solved through the efforts of one institution alone. Instead, governmental authorities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and schools are uniting to undertake joint action. Various school articles such as uniforms, bags, and stationery materials have been provided to the children registered with the PPCOs to offset their educational expenses. The necessary materials for the children's personal care have also been provided by the PPCOs. In these centres, activities are also carried out both to contribute to children's social and cultural development and to support their school education through reinforcement lessons. In addition, in order to follow up the attendance and success of the children who are reached and referred to education, a "School Based Monitoring System" has been set up. Finally, to attempt to change the entire system that makes child labour a continuing issue in Turkey, the families of the working children are being provided with vocational training and opportunities to access employment opportunities so that their children do not need to leave school in the first place.

Various awareness-raising materials have been produced to sustain this collaborative effort. These items draw on various media, such as newsletters, pamphlets, posters, audio and video cassettes, and films. Children themselves have participated in the creation and distribution of these items - many of which bear the campaign symbol of a boldly coloured red "X" and the words (in Turkish) "Stop Child Labour!". At one event featuring the distribution of bags containing advocacy materials, children gave presentations to the officials who were gathered, and also performed skits - with handmade posters as a backdrop - designed to share their experiences in a dramatic, entertaining medium. In addition, the internet is being used as a tool to communicate about the project and the issues it is designed to address; the Project page on the ILO website includes photos and video materials (e.g., one film begins with a young person looking directly into the camera and saying (in Turkish), "I want to go to school. Please help me". (Click here for an additional slideshow.)

Children, Rights, Education.

As part of the project described above, organisers undertook a field survey covering a total of 99,356 households in the 7 provinces to better understand the experiences of children who work under the harshest conditions. The 3 worst forms of child labour were found to be seasonal agricultural work, work in small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and work in the streets.

According to the United States Department of Labor (2007 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor - Turkey), "In Turkey...The State Statistical Institute estimated that 960,000 children ages 6 to 17 were working in 2006....Turkish children working in the furniture sector face health and safety risks, including exposure to dangerous chemicals and dangerous machinery....According to the General Directorate of Social Services and Child Protection of Turkey, approximately 50,000 children work in the streets of 10 provinces in Turkey....Street work makes children more vulnerable to health hazards, respiratory disease, infections, and exposure to toxic substances. They are also exposed to alcohol and narcotic use. Children working on the street are also more vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking....In some parts of Turkey, children are engaged in seasonal commercial agriculture and face poor living and working conditions... some of these children migrate with their families for 3 to 7 months at a time and have difficulty attending school."

ILO Convention 182 calls for urgent and effective action to prohibit and eradicate the child labour in its worst forms for all children who are under 18 years of age. The Turkish Government ratified this convention in 2001.

Despite the original target of 1,500 working children to be reached during the entire project cycle, by the end of the first year of implementation, 4,879 children working or at risk of working were reached, of whom 4,460 were receiving various services from the PPCOs.