Ambassador Speeches

Remarks by U.S. Ambassador Carmen Martinez Launch of ILO Time Bound Project

Lusaka
December 07, 2006

Opening list of acknowledgements:

Honorable Minister for Labor and Social Security Mukuma,

Permanent Secretary Chisupa,

ILO Country Director Finnegan,

Distinguished guests.

I am delighted to be here this evening to help launch the ILO Time Bound Project, which supports the elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor. The establishment of this national program is a critical step towards protecting human rights and the rights of children, while also promoting the social and economic development of Zambia. This project is essential to helping Zambia meet its international obligations to combat the worst forms of child labor.

Child labor affects millions of children throughout the world, putting their health, safety and education at risk. The ILO has determined that the year 2016 should be the global target for the elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor. With the establishment of this project, Zambia is on the right track towards reaching this goal

The U.S. Government is pleased to be able to support the ILO Time Bound Project, which will assist the Government of Zambia, workers' and employers' organizations, NGOS, and other civil society organizations to implement measurable, time bound interventions against child labor. The project will support efforts to:

• Develop a national plan of action against the Worst Forms of Child Labor;

• Strengthen coordination and information gathering efforts at the national and local level;

• Include child labor issues in planning, policies and programs at the national, local and organizational levels; and,

• Provide child laborers, children at risk and their families and communities with educational support, recreational facilities, psycho social counselling, and the ability to generate income.

The project will encourage all stakeholders, including government agencies and civil society groups, to work together towards a common goal – the elimination of child labor, starting with the Worst Forms of Child Labor. The U.S. Government's contribution to the ILO/IPEC project alone will not be sufficient to solve the problem of child labor. It is even more important that the Government of Zambia make the elimination of child labor a top priority. Steps for the Government to consider taking include:

• Ensuring adequate resources for local level enforcement of the Employment of Children’s and Young Person’s Act of 2004;

• Bringing educational budgets to international bench mark levels; and

• Prioritizing the creation of equitable economic growth through creation of decent work for adults who are caring for Zambia’s children.

I and my colleagues at the Embassy look forward to monitoring the development and implementation of the ILO Time Bound Project and Zambia’s progress in addressing the Worst Forms of Child Labor.

We remain committed to supporting Zambia's efforts to eliminate child labor, to ensure there will be a time in the future when no child is deprived of the right to a childhood.

Thank you.