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NEWS PUBLIC TRUST
THANDISIZWE MGUDLWA
CAPE TOWN- CHILDREN deserve the best care, support, protection, love and attention that all countries must commit to bring about.
The100 Million Campaign is a global campaign to mobilise 100 million youths to devote themselves for a better future for 100 million marginalised children who have been denied their rights and liberty.
Since its launch in 2016, youth, civil society organisations, trade
unions, schools and universities from more than 36 countries have joined
this campaign, and are working together to protect the rights
of children of their respective countries.
And this is the reason that the African Union Economic, Social, and
Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) have joined forces with the African Union
Commission (AUC), International Labour Organization (ILO) and 100
Million Campaign to advocate for and raise awareness on the promotion
and protection of the rights and welfare of children in Africa, with the
specific goal of ultimately putting an end to child labour in
Africa.
The partnership was formed in preparation for the 5th Global Conference (V Conference) on Child Labour which was held in Durban, South Africa, from 15 – 20 May 2022.
The Vth Conference convened governments, leaders, and civil society
organisations (CSOs) to speak with one voice and act collectively to
ensure that the voices and demands of children and young people who
have experienced the injustices of child labour are echoed and heard across the continent.
To commemorate the World Day Against Child Labour and International Day of the African Child, ECOSOCC teamed up with ECOSOCC member CSOs and the 100 Million Campaign to tell the stories of child labour survivors through recorded testimonies.
On June 12, ECOSOCC, its members and the partners launched a week-long social media awareness campaign, posting a visual testimony from a child labour survivor every day to share their stories and call for action from both the African and international communities to end child labour.
The social media campaign sought to promote children’s rights in Africa and around the world, in line with the African Union’s efforts to promote and protect the rights and welfare of children in Africa in accordance with Aspiration 6 of Agenda 2063 which envisages an “Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children.”
The collaboration of ECOSOCC, AUC ILO, and the 100 Million Campaign demonstrates a paradigm shift within the African community, particularly among civil society, in their efforts to shed more light on the living realities of children and youth, as well as the complexities of the labour market.
The campaign also presents an opportunity for all relevant stakeholders, including member states and policy makers at all levels to accelerate their efforts to end child labour and secure the rights of children in Africa.
ECOSOCC was established in July 2004 as an Advisory Organ composed of different social and professional groups of AU Member States.
The mandate of ECOSOCC is to contribute, through advice, to the effective translation of the objectives, principles and policies of the African Union into concrete programmes, as well as the evaluation of these programmes.