ILO-FAO event on child labour in fisheries and aquaculture

To mark the World Day Against Child Labour 2014, on June 12, FAO hosted the event "Working for blue growth: Why decent employment in fisheries and aquaculture matters", organized  in collaboration with the ILO. The objectif of the event is to identify priority areas for action to further promote decent employment in fisheries and aquaculture.

ILO-FAO e-Learning course “End Child Labour in Agriculture”

FAO and ILO launched the first unit of the joint e-Learning course “End Child Labour in Agriculture”. The FAO-ILO e-Learning course aims to strengthen capacities of agricultural stakeholders to address child labour in agriculture. The prevalence of child labour in agriculture undermines decent work, sustainable agriculture and food security. The e-Learning course is for  agricultural policy makers and advisors; agricultural programme designers and implementers; agricultural researchers; agricultural statisticians from ministries of agriculture, agricultural producer organizations.

The first unit "Introduction to child labour in agriculture" aims to raise awareness on the urgency and importance of addressing child labour in agriculture. Learners will gain an understanding of the most foundational elements of child labour in agriculture.

The complete course consists of 18 lessons that :

• Provide the knowledge and skills to address child labour in real life agricultural policy and programming.
• Use a range of instructional methods, including storytelling, case-based scenarios, interactive tests and exercises.
• Provide additional online resources and links to additional reading.

While the course is tailored to the information needs of agricultural stakeholders, much of the content will also be highly relevant to others.

To access a preview of the first unit of the E-learning course and for more information on the upcoming units visit: www.fao.org/2/childlabouragriculture.

Statement by FAO Director-General, José Graziano da Silva on the occasion of the World Day Against Child Labour

FAO Director-General, José Graziano da Silva, reminds FAO Staff of children’s right to be protected from child labour and the importance of action to reduce child labour in agriculture for a future free from poverty and hunger.

Children need our support and action so they can enjoy their right to education and health and become productive farmers and workers as adults to escape poverty and hunger."

“Today is the World Day Against Child Labour. It should remind us that 60 percent of all child labour is found in agriculture. In rural contexts, it is normal to see children help out on and around the farm. A lot of this activity is good for their development. We talk about child labour, however, when children are exposed to long work hours, heavy burdens or occupational risks inappropriate for their age and detrimental to their education and health. Too many rural children continue to be exposed to such conditions and this is undermining our efforts to end hunger and eradicate poverty.

Those children need our support and action so they can enjoy their right to education and health and become productive farmers and workers as adults to escape poverty and hunger.” — FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva, 12 June 2014.