111th International Labour Conference - Committee on Application of Standards Nigeria Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - EU Statement

PRINT

111th International Labour Conference - Committee on Application of Standards Nigeria Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - EU Statement

08.06.2023 Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in Geneva

European Union

Draft Statement

International Labour Conference
111^th session

Geneva, 5-16 June 2023

________

Committee on Application of StandardsNigeria

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182)

________

Geneva, 7 June 2023

- CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY -

Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries Albania*, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, the Republic of North Macedonia*, Moldova, Montenegro*, the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.

1. The EU and its Member States are committed to the promotion, protection, respect and fulfilment of human rights, including labour rights and the fight against child labour, with a priority to its worst forms. We will continue to stand up for the rights of every child to reach their full potential within the framework of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols, in line with Council conclusions on the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child.
2. We underline that the universal ratification of the ILO Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labour mustbe accompanied byeffective implementation in law and practice. As stated in the Durban call to action, the worst forms of child labour should be eliminated as a matter of urgency - a commitment included also in the 2030 Agenda.
3. The EU and its Member States are long-term partners of Nigeria. This partnership is further reinforced by the Multiannual Indicative Programme for Nigeria 2021-27 which highlights the EU's zero tolerance approach for child labour and includes measures and objectives supporting youth employment, human development, education with a special focus on young women and girls, job creation, and addressing trafficking in human beings.
4. While noting certain measures taken by the Governmentof Nigeria,we express our deep concern about the continued recruitment and use of children by armed groups, which is a grave violation of child rights and international humanitarian law and perpetuates other serious crimes such as abductions, murders and sexual and gender based violence. We urge the Government to ensure the full and immediate demobilization of all children and to put an immediate end to the practice of forced and other recruitment of children by armed groups in the country. The Government must ensure that adequate and timely support is provided to those children, who as victims should have adequate access to rehabilitation, psychological and social integration supports, noting also growing issues of stigmatisation and exclusion. We call for thorough investigations and prosecutions for recruiting children in armed conflict and for full accountability to be ensured. Effective and dissuasive penalties should also be imposed on perpetrators. We urge the Government to take all the necessary measures toprevent the re-involvement of children in this vicious practice, including by targeted labour policies aimed at tackling poverty and creating decent work opportunities for their families and communities. We welcome the constructive engagement of local stakeholders, which has resulted in the development of a UN Offer to support the Federal and State Government in the Implementation of the Borno Model in the Northeast of Nigeria. This Offer prioritises the development of guidelines for transitional justice and community-based reconciliation processes, including the safeguarding and protection of children and women, in coordination with the Federal government.
5. Particularly worrying are also the continuing practices of human trafficking and in particular the large number of children who are victims of both cross-border and internal trafficking for labour and sexual exploitation, disproportionately affecting girls under the age of 18. In line with the Committee's request, we urge the Government of Nigeria to intensify its efforts to combat child trafficking and to ensure that the perpetrators are thoroughly investigated and prosecuted, and that effective and dissuasive penalties are imposed.
6. We express our deep concern about the large number of children who are deprived of basic education in the country. The magnitude of 18.3 million out-of-school children as reported by UNICEF and Federal government in 2022, is an appalling sign of a serious structural issue. We recall that the access to free basic education plays a central role in preventing children from being involved in child labour. Therefore, we expect from the Government to step up its efforts to improve the functioning of the educational system and to facilitate access for all children to free basic education, paying special attention also to girls and children in the war-affected areas of north-eastern Nigeria, and to prevent school drop-outs.
7. We note with deep concern the growing number of children in street situation, including Almajiri children, who are used for begging. Recalling that street children are particularly vulnerable to the worst forms of child labour, trafficking, and human rights' abuses, we urge the Government to guarantee effective protection and support to those children and ensure their enrolment in the educational system. Those organizing and promoting this practice should be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted, and effective and dissuasive penalties imposed.
8. The EU, together with UNICEF, as well as EU Member States support capacity building of government education officers in Nigeria, in particular in the north of the country, to improve the quality of data and evidence available to formulate impactful policies and targeted investments in the education sector. We will continue to support Nigeria in strengthening its educational system with dedicated development assistance, as well as via the Global Partnership for Education, and call on the Government to strengthen its policy framework to promote durable impact.
9. Given the gravity and magnitude of the situation, we stress also the importance of development cooperation and engaging all relevant stakeholders. We encourage the Government to avail itself of further technical cooperation, including by expanding existing ILO technical assistance in the country. We look forward to continuing joint efforts with the Government of Nigeria and the ILO and its constituents.

Thank you Chair.

[*Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.]