Khun Apai Chandanachulaka, Permanent Secretary of Social Development and Human Security, Advisor to the National Committee on Combating Trafficking in Children and Women

Khun Charupong Ruangsuwan, Permanent Secretary of Labour Advisor to the National Committee on Combating Trafficking in Children and Women

Participants, ladies and gentlemen,

On behalf of the ILO, it is a great pleasure for me to welcome you here this morning. I thank Khun Apai, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, and Khun Charupong, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour And Mr. Fergus Auld for your presence with us today.

I am very pleased to learn about this meeting to discuss a collaborative framework between and the ILO on action to combat trafficking in children and women. The ILO Convention No.182 on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour targets the trafficking of children as one of the priorities for urgent action. This event is another important step to give a practical meaning to the commitment behind this convention and to set operational plans towards the elimination of one of the worst forms of child labour.

The ILO deals with the issue of trafficking in human beings as one of the worst forms of child labour, as forced labour and an abuse of migrants. Many victims of trafficking end up in the worst forms of child labour and forced labour conditions. Many migrants looking for better opportunities have been victims of trafficking

On behalf of the ILO I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Government of Thailand for its commitment and efforts to combat child labour and eliminate its worst forms, especially, trafficking of children. is one of the countries that ratified Convention 182 during the first 2 years after its adoption in 1999. To date 149 countries have ratified this fundamental Convention. The rapid ratification of C 182 by ILO member countries reflects the international and national commitment to end, as the matter of urgency, the worst forms of child labour. Covering children under the age of 18, the worst forms of child labour are divided into two major categories:

First, unconditional worst forms specifically identified in the convention, such as bonded labour, slavery practices, the use of children in prostitution, drug trafficking, forced recruitment in armed conflict, child trafficking.

Second, child labour in hazardous work, such as work in construction, mining, agriculture. Many victims of trafficking end up in work places in these categories. C 182 requires that member state identify and register the types of hazardous work in consultation with employers’, workers’ organization and other concerned groups.

We have heard from member states that ratification is not a difficult task, but the challenge is in the implementation. How can we achieve the goal of elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labour? In this context, is moving in the right direction by developing a National Plan of Action in Combating Trafficking in Children and Women and a National Plan of Action under the application of ILO Convention 182.

Child Labour, and especially the worst forms of child labour, do not exist in isolation. They are the outcomes of many root causes, such as poverty, the lack of education opportunities, the lack of employment opportunities for youth and parents, inequality of opportunities between men and women , etc. In this context, the elimination of child labour is part of a broader goal within a national agenda for decent work.

Action to combat child labour is not new in . Each of your organizations & institutions have been part of national efforts to combat child labour for over a decade, and you have seen much progress from those national efforts – for example the majority of Thai children today obtain basic education up to grade 9^th. The ILO is very proud to be part of your success. We have learned along with you that child labour is a complex issue, which requires national concerted action over the years. While some progresses has been made, we are all aware that many children continue to be exploited in various forms of child labour, and some are in the category of the worst forms, such as the use of children in prostitution, the use of children in the trafficking and distribution of drugs, children trafficked into various forms of hazardous work. In addition, migration from neighboring countries into increases the vulnerability of children of migrants and child migrants to the worst forms of child labour. These are some of the new challenges that has to deal with.

The ILO believes in your collective experience over the years. The willingness to strengthen your existing efforts with the support of your Government will certainly strengthen our collaborative efforts. The ILO will continue to be an active partner in action to combat trafficking.

Lastly, I wish you much success in your discussion, I hope you find encouragement in what has been accomplished thus far, and I hope you find renewal of strength and commitment for the work you set for yourselves.

I trust your work will lead to effective action that brings a worst from of child labour to an end.

Thank you.