The International Partnership for Cooperation on Child Labour in Agriculture statement on the impact of COVID-19 on child labour in agriculture
In 2007, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI/CGIAR), and the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF) joined forces to scale-up action to eliminate and prevent child labour in agriculture, including fisheries, forestry and animal production, by launching the International Partnership for Cooperation on Child Labour in Agriculture through a Declaration of Intent.
The Partnership brings together diverse areas of technical expertise and the multidisciplinary perspectives of its members to address child labour in agriculture and its root causes and to promote decent work for youth and adults as a contribution to sustainable rural development.
In collaboration with workers’ organizations and social partners, agricultural organizations can play important roles in eliminating child labour in agriculture. While these organizations have close links with national ministries or departments of agriculture, agricultural extension services, farmers’ organizations and cooperatives, agricultural producers’ organizations and agricultural research bodies, often child labour is not considered part of their mandate and therefore not included in their policy and action agendas.
The Partnership engages agricultural producers’ organizations at national and global level.