EU must lead global battle against child labour

I HAVE been appointed by the European Parliament to carry out a comprehensive report into how the EU can help combat child labour around the world.

It is estimated that 200 million children worldwide can be described as “child labourers”. This is totally unacceptable.

The international community must work in a more concerted manner to ensure international codes of practice to combat child labour are rigorously enforced in all countries.

The EU is the largest donor of humanitarian aid in the world and it should be taking a leading role in ensuring that child labour is abolished.

The EU must work more closely with the UN, Unicef, the World Bank, the International Labour Organisation, donors and NGOs to put in the correct strategies to ensure uniform laws are in place to stop this inhumane practice of child labour.

I have written to all key European NGO groupings seeking their views as to how to advance this important political issue, in the context of my report.

I will be meeting with the EU Commissioner for Development Aid, Louis Michel, with the Slovenian and French governments (which are both holding the EU presidency this year) and with NGOs so as to guarantee that my report will address the key issues the EU will have to deal with to end child labour around the world.

Child labour and education are inextricably linked. Children denied access to education are more likely to be engaged in child labour. One of the key priorities of the millennium development goals is to ensure that primary education is available to all children by 2015. The EU must try to ensure these goals are met by then.

Liam Aylward MEP

Hugginstown

Co Kilkenny