World Summit on Exploitative Child Labour

The Children's Rights International (CRI), a body established by the World Congress on Family Law and Children's Rights, is organising a conference on exploitative child labour which is to be held in Cairns, Australia from 14 - 17 October 2007.

The World Summit on Exploitative Child Labour will evaluate the success or failure of domestic and international efforts to control and eradicate the worst forms of child labour. It will do so by focussing discussion on the roles of both national and international organisations representing employers and workers, non-government organisations and governments. It will engage the corporate sector, so that the extent to which responsible corporate citizenship is being practiced in both developing and developed countries can be tested.

The Summit will also consider whether and how international companies and organisations are addressing the worst forms of exploitation in their labour obligations and in attempting to set higher standards. Where efforts are considered to be unsatisfactory or non existent the need for new approaches to protect children’s rights will be discussed.

The voices of children will also be heard, as their wants and needs are often overlooked.

The Summit will concentrate on exploitative child labour, because we recognise that in certain circumstances there is little alternative to some involvement of children in the labour market. However, where this occurs, the need to set basic minimum standards for the adequate protection of children’s interests is of central importance.

An international summit provides an opportunity to take a fresh look at this issue from these perspectives. Holding it in an affluent country such as Australia highlights the contribution its citizens are making to the problems we seek to identify and address, and focuses attention on the need for change.

The organisers are calling for papers on topics relevant to the following four broad themes:

  • Economic, Social Cultural and Health issues.
  • Legal and Political measures.
  • Commercial and Corporate responses.
  • Public Awareness and Education initiatives.

The Organising Committee of the World Summit on Exploitative Child Labour invites abstracts on these and related topics to be directed to the Director of Studies, The Hon Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC through the on line submission process at www.amlink.com.au/secure/html/wcfl07.htm

All abstracts MUST be submitted electronically. They will be reviewed by a panel and presenters will be notified in April 2007. Selected papers presented at the World Summit will be published in mainstream academic and legal journals and accreditation will soon be available.

Further information

Countries

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