World Day Against Child Labour 2009: Give girls a chance

 

 

 

The global financial crisis could push an increasing number of children, particularly girls, into child labour, according to a new report issued by the ILO for the World Day Against Child Labour on June 12.
The ILO report, entitled "Give girls a chance: Tackling child labour, a key to the future", notes that while recent global estimates indicate the number of children involved in child labour has been falling, the financial crisis threatens to erode this progress. The ILO report says the most recent global estimate indicated that more than 100 million girls are involved in child labour, and many are exposed to some of its worst forms.
The report highlights the importance of investing in the education of girls as an effective way of tackling poverty. Educated girls are more likely to earn more as adults, marry later in life, have fewer and healthier children and have decision-making power within the household.

(See: World of work. The magazine of the ILO. Nr. 66, August 2009. P. 11-12)

Further Information:
www.ilo.org/public/english/wdacl/flash09/index.html

(21.12.2009)