Beirut – 10 June, 2016/ In the occasion of World Day against Child   Labour, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized on June 9th, a panel discussion on "Child Labour in Agriculture in   Lebanon: Towards Comprehensive Support to the National Action Plan against Child   Labour", at Crown Plaza Hotel in Hamra, Beirut.  The panel discussion featured presentations   and debates on the topic of Child labor in Agriculture and was composed   of:  Mrs. Nazha Shalita, Ministry   of Labor (MoL), Mrs. Abir Abou alKhodoud, Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Mrs.   Rita Karam, Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) , Mrs. Sonia Khoury, Ministry   of Education (MEHE), Cap. Bilal Rammal, General-Security, Mr. Carlos   Bohorquez, UNICEF, Mrs. Hayat Osseyran, International Labor Organization   (ILO), and Ms. Faten Adada, FAO.

In her opening remarks, Mrs. Solange Matta   Saade, representing the FAO representative in Lebanon highlighted the theme   of the occasion saying that "The focus of the 2016 World Day against Child   Labour is on child labour and supply chains. With 168 million children still   in child labour, all supply chains, from agriculture to manufacturing,   services to construction, run the risk that child labour may be present,"   adding that "the FAO and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) are   reaching out to agricultural professionals to raise awareness about the   importance of child labour issues".

Social protection, and decent work policies for rural youth and adults, are the basic ingredients needed to end child labour in agriculture, according to Mrs. Faten Adada, Social Protection focal point at FAO Lebanon, "In the framework of supporting the livelihoods and   improving the resilience of rural communities in Lebanon against crises,   particularly the Syrian displaced crisis, FAO is intensifying efforts in   order to ensure social protection through the implementation of programs   designed to reduce poverty and strengthen labor markets".

The International Labor Organization's child   labor consultant, Mrs. Hayat Osseiran, warned that "we must be extremely   aware that the consecutive crises situations of war and displacement is   taking us back in time when it comes to the implementation of Worst Forms of   Child Labour Convention, 1999 (C182)", adding, "hazardous types of child   labour is mainly seen amongst Syrian Refugees and urgent collective action is   needed in this regards."

Mr. Carlos Bohorquez, Child Protection   Specialist at UNICEF, stressed that attitudes and practices need to change in   Lebanon, saying, "many young children are relied upon as bread winners in the   household, and the different stakeholders in the   community must work together in changing the deeply rooted behavior and practices   accepting child labour and in turn promote children to attend school -    which should be the best place for children to 'work'."

"As poverty is the major cause of child   labour, most of the school aged refugee children in Lebanon, especially in rural   areas, are currently working in agriculture," stated Mrs. Sonia el Khoury,   Head of the Project Management Unit, "We, as Ministry of Education and Higher   Education (MEHE), are facing a major problem in retaining refugee students in   public schools due to many agricultural seasons, leading students to miss   schools for several days and eventually lead them to high risk of failure   which is one of the main causes for drop out," she said.

In her presentation Mrs. Nazha Shalita, director of the Child Labor Unit at the MOL, focused on the role of the Lebanese Government in Eliminating Child Labour and child labour legal framework,emphasizing that there is an urgent need to raise public awareness of child labour and various immediate measures that can be undertaken to preserve the inalienable rights of all children in Lebanon. Mrs. Rita Karam representing the Ministry of Social Affairs also showcased the strategies and the role implemented by the Higher Council for Children to protect children from all kind of abuse.