This handbook is intended to serve as a practical aid to the understanding of the problem of child labour and its worst forms and aims to encourage effective action to tackle it. The guide is intended for parliamentarians in the fight against child labour. It may also be a valuable resource for many others who wish to see sustainable development and human rights enjoyed by all: governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations, civil society organisations, and anyone wishing to become involved in the movement to end the exploitation of children. It is part of a global campaign of the International Labour Organization (ILO) to ratify ILO Convention No. 182. The handbook is organised around seven questions: what is meant by child labour and the worst forms of child labour?; what are the causes of child labour?; why is it urgent and important to take action against the worst forms of child labour?; how do international labour standards and other international treaties address the worst forms of child labour?; what programmes should be implemented to eliminate the worst forms of child labour?; who can make the difference, in the country and in the international community?; what is the role of parliamentarians? The handbook includes the texts of ILO Conventions and Recommendations concerning child labour and the worst forms of child labour, a model instrument of ratification and other reference material.
