The Hague Global Child Labour Conference 2010 - Food ...

PrefacePrefaceThe Hague Global Child Labour Conference 2010 was held on 10 and 11 May, and wasorganized by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment of the Netherlands in closecollaboration with the International Labour Organization. The conference broughttogether a diverse and representative array of actors involved in the fight against childlabour.Over the course of the two days participants took stock of progress made and keyremaining obstacles to the eradication of child labour, particularly its worst forms, andshared good practices and lessons learned. On the final day, participants adopted byacclamation the Roadmap for Achieving the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour by2016.The Roadmap builds on the knowledge and experience of those involved in the fightagainst child labour and provides strategic direction for the road ahead. The Roadmappoints out that child labour is not a phenomenon that can be addressed in isolation, andthat the elimination of child labour is also key to achieving many development goals. Itproposes suggested priority actions for ways to step-up and accelerate action and toincrease collaboration. It also includes a monitoring framework to ensure that action iscarried forward.The Roadmap was developed in an extensive consultation process over several monthsthat involved all participants through two broad-based meetings with a representativeconsultative group, two electronic consultations with an even broader set of stakeholders,a final plenary discussion at the time of the conference, and an open drafting committee.The adoption of the Roadmap is not the end, but only the beginning. In the weeks andyears ahead action is needed from all actors to carry forward the messages of the Roadmapand to live up to the commitment to action to eliminate the scourge of child labour.The Conference reaffirmed the commitment to end the worst forms of child labour as amatter of urgency, and to do so we must dramatically step-up and accelerate action. Wemust carry this renewed energy and the recommendations from the Conference back toour home countries and organizations, and follow through on our commitment. Workingtogether, and with children and their families, we can deliver a world where children liveand learn and play free from exploitation.Lauris BeetsDirectorDirectorate for International AffairsMinistry of Social Affairs and EmploymentThe NetherlandsConstance ThomasDirectorInternational Programme on theElimination of Child Labour (IPEC)International Labour Organization (ILO)v