Support to the Proposed National Sub-programme to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labour: Time-Bound Measures

The project aims at strengthening the enabling environment for national action against the worst forms of child labour and developing the area based integrated interventions model to elimainte the worst forms of child labour at the local level by removing and preventing at least 6000 boys and girls at risk or engaged in the worst forms of child labour.

Mongolia ratified ILO Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) in 2001 and ILO Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) in 2002.

Convention No.182 calls for immediate and effective measures to secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour as a matter of urgency, including time-bound measures to:

  • Prevent the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour;
  • Provide direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour and for their rehabilitation and social integration;
  • Ensure access to free basic education and appropriate vocational training for all children removed from the worst forms of child labour;
  • Identify and reach out to children at special risk; and
  • Take account of the special situation of girls.

The project was designed to support the country’s commitment made by ratifying ILO Convention No.182 which calls for time-bound measures to eliminate the worst forms of child labour (WFCL). The project supported the national efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labour in Mongolia with two strategic objectives:

  • Strengthening the enabling environment for national action against the worst forms of child labour in Mongolia; and
  • Developing the integrated area based intervention model at the local level targeting boys and girls at risk or engaged in the worst forms of child labour for prevention, withdrawal and rehabilitation that could be replicated at a larger scale.

Enabling actions at the national level included support for coordinated policy responses, coherence in the legal framework, knowledge development, capacity building of various stakeholders and awareness raising and social mobilization. The Government of Mongolia, trade unions, the employers federation, local governments and civil society groups were important partners in all processes at national and local levels.

The project supported efforts to:

  • Improve legal framework, integrate child labour concerns in the programmes and plans of line ministries and build linkages with other ongoing development initiatives and strengthen national coordination mechanisms;
  • Build the capacity of partners and promote networking of governmental and non-governmental organizations to combat the worst forms of child labour;
  • Develop and implement a child labour monitoring system;
  • Build capacity of labour inspectors and law enforcement officers;
  • Implement a national awareness raising campaign to influence policy, public opinion and mobilize coordinated action on the worst forms of child labour;
  • Undertake in-depth studies on the worst forms of child labour, integrate child labour module in the national Labour Force survey and improve capacity to analyse existing information for knowledge base development; and
  • Promote child labour subjects in the school curricula and at universities, etc.

At the local level, support was provided to local governments, NGOs and other local partners so that capacities could be improved to take responsibility for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour with the area-based integrated interventions approach, including provision of services for prevention and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, awareness raising and a locally managed child labour monitoring system. Project partners’ capacity to increase the quality and impact of the interventions to children was improved through development of training materials, training and experience sharing. Subjects of training included health and psychological counseling, occupational safety and health, gender mainstreaming, supporting child rights, prevention of abuse, violence and crime. Good practices and lessons learnt from area-based interventions were documented.

Direct support removed children from the worst forms of child labour and prevented other children from entering such work.

  • The priority sectors of child labour for project interventions were: a) informal mining, b) the urban informal sector, c) sexual exploitation of children, and d) herding;
  • The geographical areas selected for area-based interventions were Ulaanbaatar and 5 aimags: Uvurkhangai, Tuv, Bayankhongor, Dornogobi and Dornod; and
  • 6,000 children were targeted for withdrawal and prevention from WFCL through the provision of educational and non-educational services.

Overall, the project built the basis for broader, more far-reaching impacts in the future. The result of the project interventions contributed directly to Mongolia’s development goals.