International Day for the Abolition of Slavery - PRESS RELEASE

Australia must do its fair share to eliminate the worst forms of child labour and exploitation by 2016.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has declared that an end to the worst forms of child labour and exploitation may be achieved by 2016.

The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, a day dedicated to eliminating the worst forms of child exploitation will be marked on 2 December 2008. To commemorate this day, a coalition of the Uniting Church, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania, United Nations Association of Australia, Just Salvos, Stop the Traffik, Plan Australia, Good Shepherd, the Oaktree Foundation, the Anti Slavery Society, Oz Child, Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA, Caritas and Baptist World Aid Australia are calling on the Australian Government to contribute a minimum of US $2.1 million per annum to the International Program on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC.) The coalition is also calling on the Australian Government to urge and support International Labour Organisation (ILO) Member States in the Asia Pacific region that have not ratified Convention 182, to do so.

Director of the Uniting Church, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania's Justice and International Mission Unit, Dr Mark Zirnsak said "ending the use of children in slave like arrangements is something we must end once and for all. Most Australians would expect our government to do its fair share to make this a reality. The money needed to make this happen is small change within the aid budget."

Australia has contributed $352,281 in aid to IPEC in the 15 year period between 1992 and 2003, and has not made a formal contribution to the work of IPEC since 2003.

The international community has recognised the seriousness of child labour and exploitation through the ratification by 169 countries, including Australia, of the Convention Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (C182) which encourages international action, cooperation and assistance to eliminate the worst forms of child labour.

Australia is currently a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour and Exploitation (1999), and has recently contributed aid to programs on Child Protection in our region.

In 2004 there were an estimated 218 million child labourers aged 5 - 17 across the globe. The majority of them were located in the Asia Pacific region. More than 126 million of all child labourers were engaged in the worst forms of child labour and those practices similar to slavery, such as debt bondage, the use of children in illicit production and trafficking of drugs, sexual exploitation, the trafficking in children and the use of children in armed conflict.

For all media queries or to arrange an interview with the Director of the Uniting Church, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania's Justice and International Mission Unit, Dr Mark Zirnsak, please contact:
Ruth Snelleman
Media Liaison
Uniting Church
Synod of Victoria and Tasmania
0418 330 483

© Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA 2003.

Last Modified: Monday, 01-Dec-2008 16:01:18 EST
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