stand with us

Australia

2011-06-09T10:08:00.000+01:00

Australia is amongst the countries that are very supportive of the convention, including the provisions that protect child domestic workers. Our two Champions from Tanzania, Angel and Angelina, shared their opinions with one of the Australian delegates some days ago and today, she came to meet me to ask me to convey her message of support to child domestic workers. Here it goes:

Dear Honourable children,
We hear your messages very clearly and will do our best to achieve a strong convention and recommendation to ensure labour standards and protections for you. I have great respect for all of you and wish you a very bright future.
Louise – Government of Australia

I wish our champions were still here

2011-06-08T09:58:00.003+01:00

Today was the day when the Committee discussed paragraph 4 of the recommendation. 7 amendments were presented to modify the text that our champions lobbied about. Whilst everybody recognised the need to protect child domestic worker, an intense discussion took place in relation to the current prohibition in the text of night work for children. After a long exchange and a unanimous support from all governments that spoke the paragraph was retained!

This is a real success and there is no doubt that the Global Views of child domestic workers and the lobbying of our Champions played a significant part in achieving this great result!

Audrey

Convention Agreed!

2011-06-08T09:15:00.000+01:00

At 10.00pm on Tuesday, the Committee on Domestic Workers completed the discussion of all 19 articles of the convention and adopted it! Whilst it doesn’t yet mean that the Convention is adopted (it will still need to be voted for in Plenary), it represents a giant step towards recognising the rights of domestic workers – children, adults and migrants.

I felt very privileged to be in the Committee room as a real sense of achievement could be felt by all in the room. The Committee members also broke their own procedure and clapped for a few minutes to celebrate the achievement!

As we know, article 4 on the minimum age and the right to education for child domestic workers was protected during the negotiations, which was a real success. It is good to know that the substance of most of the other general articles also was preserved.

After the Chair closed the session, workers starting humming and singing a very touching song from South Africa in celebration, it was a very happy and significant moment.

Audrey

Rain, strength and chipsy

2011-06-07T15:40:00.001+01:00

All the Children's Champions are now on their way home and it has started pouring with rain...typical...over the past two days we've held an art workshop with the girls and they made an evaluation of their time here and it has brought up some interesting issues.

Despite having no common language between them the girls got on very well with each other. They said that they drew strength from the similarities of their lives as child domestic workers. Although the contexts are quite different in the Philippines, Tanzania and Costa Rica, they were treated much the same by some of their employers and communities (although not all). They all mentioned that they are considered 'worthless' or 'valueless' by others. But, although they knew they had suffered, the girls all expressed that, by sharing their stories they gained strength from each other.

They worked hard from day one in a very alien environment, adult and formal - a daunting prospect for most of us let alone for five young women who are suffering from jet lag, finding the food strange and - for four of them - have never left their country before. It is incredible that they performed so well. But thinking about it, maybe it is not so incredible - they are driven by a shared passsion and they have a very clear goal (to end the exploitation of their fellow child domestic workers).

The laughter noticeably increased over the past two days - perhaps because the pressure was off a bit. We learned some words from each of our languages - and it is indicative of the things that were important to the girls that we learned the following words in Swahili - 'sleepy', 'full' (of food), 'article 4 and paragraph 4', 'come on girls', 'pink' (which was pinky) and 'chips' (which was chipsy!!)...that word alone created barrages of laughter.

It was a strong team this year at the ILC, helped considerably the girls' guardians - all committed and caring women - who gently pushed them towards challenges instead of away from them. I am inspired by them all.

One of the many messages of support we received

2011-06-05T15:00:00.003+01:00

Congratulations for your valuable and fruitful statement rasied doing committee on domestic workers. I really support your statement and really support the adoption of the convention.
-----
In addition to the conventions on minimum wage and child labour, each and every country should support adoption and ratification of a convention that provides international protection for domestic workers.
Republic of Turkey

Deux des 50 messages de soutien que nos champions ont obtenus

2011-06-05T14:54:00.002+01:00

Soutenons vigoureusement les enfants travailleurs domestiques dans le monde entier et sommes favorables a l'adoption de normes internationales dans le sens de leur protection.
Senegal
-----
Nous, Centrale Syndicale Humanisme, au dela d'apporter notre solidarite aux travailleurs et travailleuses domestiques, nous nous engageons a les defendre partout ou leurs interets sont en jeu. Beaucoup de courage a vous et bonne continuation.
Cote d'Ivoire

Unos de los 50 mensajes de apoyo que recibimos

2011-06-05T14:49:00.001+01:00

Renuncia a todo lo que impida tu crecimiento integral, eres unica en el universo; tus aportes son necesarios para una mejor humanidad. Lo mejor empieza por ti.
Republica Dominica
------
Un saludo de los trabajadores Uruguayos a la lucha que llevan. Por una infancia donde nlos ninos jueguen, se diviertan y pueden estudiar.

The champions lobbied furiously!

2011-06-05T14:44:00.003+01:00

In just four days, Angelina, Angel, Lilbeth, Ginne and Tatiana have become very confident and effective lobbyists. and I am pretty confident in saying that I have the feeling of a job well done!
We spent three days at the ILC, and in this time, our champions managed to talk to and present their global views to over 30 governemental delegations, this is amazing! They played an important role in making sure that article 4 wasn't watered down and delegates understood the importance of the convention to protect child domestic workers globally.
It wasn't easy at the begining, it has to be said: delegates have very little time, are constantly moving around and not always used to listening meaningfully to the opinions of children. But the champions worked hard on their messaging, making sure that they were able to present the global views of other child domestic workers in not more than the 3 minutes delegates were allocating them.
I would like to say congratulations to our five fantastic lobbyists for taking up the challenge and reaching out to so many governements.
Audrey

The drafting process in action

2011-06-04T17:53:00.000+01:00

Thought I'd write this while the girls are on a coach tour of 'Nyon and the Countryside' - so that they can see more of Geneva than the inside of a conference room! Although it's only 4 days into the ILC today was our last day. Article 4 was adopted last night and was not watered down as we had feared. Lilibeth was at the ILC early yesterday and gave us the bad news that amendments had been proposed to Article 4 that would give much less protection to children and, effectively, deny child domestic workers their right to education. Article 4 (in the convention) and Paragraph 4 (in the recommendation) are the only places where children are mentioned in the standards. They have become a rallying cry for us, we have been asking delegates whether they support them, we've been explaining the protection they would give children. We've even all learnt how to say Article 4 Paragraph 4 in Swahili (kifungoo channe, kidoko channe - phonetical spelling of course!).

The girls were quite dispondent when Lilibeth explained about the amendments, it hit them hard. But they forced themselves to carry on lobbying for them and we found that, actually, when they mentioned the proposed amendments, delegates sat up and listened a bit more closely, rifled through their papers and were very supportive of Article 4. It worked in our favour...children were on the agenda.

We had a very positive 'round up' session in the grounds of the UN yesterday (when we sit in a circle and one-by-one talk about what was good that day, what was bad and what worked - in terms of lobbying). Our round up seemed to show that we'd all seen the drafting process at work. It's hard to feel you know what is going on at the ILC when legislation is being drafted. The drafting process is VERY far removed from all the children's champions' lives. Especially Angelina who can't yet read and write. But yesterday we were involved in the process - because we cared about the impact of some words being removed from a couple of sentences we had all got to know quite well!!

We won't be around for the discussion on Paragraph 4 but I hope that our impact on the first 4 days will continue in the minds of the delegates when it comes to Paragraph 4...Audrey will still be here so she'll have to fight for all of us!

Helen

La fuerza del grupo logra los propositos

2011-06-04T11:01:00.000+01:00

Hola mi nombre es Tatiana, soy de Costa Rica, y soy una trabajadora domestica y tuve la oportunidad de presentar mi experiencia como tal en la OIT, lo cual fue muy especial para mi porque pude ser escuchada por muchas delegaciones de diferentes paises.
En estos dias he tenido la oportunidad de conocer a personas con el mismo interes y preocupacion que la mia, luchar por los derechos de los y las adolescentes trabajadores domesticos.
Lo que he compartido con el grupo de adolescentes que vinimos a Ginebra ha sido de gran aprendizaje y ayuda para mi porque todos no solo me han apoyado (al sentirme lejos de mi familia y amigos) sino tambien hemos podido intercambiar experiencias, lo cual me a motivado a seguir adelante y a creer que si se puede lograr el voto y apoyo a la convencion, la cual es improtate para todos y todas las y los trajadores domesticos.
El dia de ayer tuve la oportunidad de expresarles a delegados de diferentes paises mi experiencia como trabajadora domestica desde que tenia 11 anos, la cual creo que fue importante para concientizarlos sobre las realidades que pasan los otros trabajadores domesticos en iguales o peores condiciones que la mia.
Es importante destacar que para que este trabajo se logre con exito, se debe de trabajar en grupo porque esto permite la organizacion de la labor que se realiza, asi como el apoyo que se siente de los demas. Igualmente todo lo que el resto del grupo agrego es muy valioso y ayuda a que tanto los otros como yo podamos salir adelante con la mision que se nos ha encomendado: Ser la voz de ninos, ninas y adolescentes trabajadores domestico alrededor del mundo, haciendose no solo presentes sino tambien visibles.
Para terminar, quiero agradecer su apoyo y espero que este gran movimiento de ninos, ninas y trabajadores domestico nunca termine de hacerse escuchar.

Message from Angel

2011-06-03T12:56:00.000+01:00

Hello

I am Angel from Tanzania

I’m very happy to speak with delegates at ILC from different countries because they give us hope to support, vote and ratify the Convention on Child Domestic Workers.

I’m sure that they are going to do it and I hope to see those changes in their countries in the near future.

Thanks

TODOS TENEMOS DERECHO A SER ESCUCHADOS

2011-06-03T12:51:00.001+01:00

Ginne at the Side Event 1 June

Hola, mi nombre es Ginne Morera y soy de San Jose, Costa Rica, del programa Dando Voces a los ninos, ninas y adolescentes trabajadores domesticos del DNI en este pais.

Mi experiencia aqui en Ginebra ha sido muy bonita y unica, y que lo que me ha venido sucediendo a sido diferente a lo que estoy acostumbrada. En especial lo que me sucedio el dia de ayer, donde la pase super bien, al principio fue un poquito dificil porque quise hablar con un presentante y me dijo que no tenia tiempo para hablar conmigo sobre el documento que los ninos, ninas y adolescentes trabajadores domesticos hemos creado para que se escuche nuestra realidad. Pero bueno, luego aparecio la delegacion de Chile que empezaron a oir lo que tenia por decir, especialmente porque yo hablo espanol como ellos (y para ser sincera eso tambien me alegro a mi), asi que aproveche y les hable de la relevancia al apoyo en general de la convencion, al igual que al articulo 4 del parrafo 4 de esta y la ratificacion en cada pais. Tambien les hable de las diferentes situaciones de riesgo que nos enfrentamos dia a dia, como por ejemplo el que las personas menores de 14 anos realizen actividades domesticas no adecuadas a su desarrollo, tanto psciologico como fisico.
El que la delegacion de Chile me escuchara fue muy motivante para mi, ya que no solo escucharon mi voz sino la de muchos otros trabajadores domesticos infantiles, haciendome sentir segura de mi misma, asi como apreciada.
Para terminar, les recuerdo a todos y todas que es necesario estar infomados sobre lo que implica el articulo 4, parrafo 4 de la convencion, para asi tener bases solidas para tomar decisiones y a la hora de ratificarlo en cada pais, lo cual requiere que los y las trabajadores domesticos sean escuchados y tomados en cuenta, ya que somos nosotros los que estamos viviendo esta triste realidad.
Recuerden que cuando se sientan que se estan violentando sus derechos su integridad, hay personas y organizaciones que se preocupan por nuestro bienestar.

The most important day!

2011-06-03T12:18:00.000+01:00

It was great opportunity to speak in the Domestic Workers Committee hearing where tripartite delegates from different countries listened to my speech about the Global Views of Child Domestic Workers.

It was indeed a very overwhelming and memorable experience. I am very thankful that once in my life I was given opportunity to speak of about an important convention that will make a difference in the lives of other child domestic workers.

When I went back to my seat, I saw people crying and emotional. Some even came to approach and congratulate me after the meeting. It made me feel happy because our voice was heard and it helped us to lobby for their support.

Again thank you so much for your support

Lilibeth

Lilibeth addresses the plenary!

2011-06-02T16:39:00.000+01:00

We want to congratulate Lilibeth on addressing the plenary of the ILO's Committee on Decent Work for Domestic Workers. She spoke clearly and beautifully about child domestic workers concerns and we clapped (silently). We had to be silent in our congratulations as NGOs are forbidden to speak during the committee. This is why Lilibeth's speech is so significant for us and for children more generally when you are at the ILO. Here she is in the front row of the workers section of the committee room!

We spoke Up!

2011-06-01T15:26:00.000+01:00

Hi my name is Lilibeth Masamloc, from the Philippines. I am a former Child Domestic Worker, I started working at the age of 13. Now, a leader of SUMAPI, a national association of domestic workers in the Philippines which works to uphold the rights and dignity of domestic workers, especially children in domestic work.

In behalf of my colleagues here, we are very much grateful and thankful to all the supports. It was gave us couraged and inspired us to move forward and to Stand as a voice of our fellows child domestic workers around the world.

Just to share with you our first day experienced in the ILC. It was my pleasure having a chance to witnessed the Plenary session and saw the conference hall. After which I had attended Workers' committee briefing where the Chairperson encourage the workers' representative to give their feedbacks on the blue report.

Of course, the very exciting part was when we SPOKE UP during the side event organized by the Anti-Slavery International and partners. All of us were given a chance to discussed the specific issue as well as give solutions to the problems. Because of my experiences in lobbying and being active in the association, I was able to discussed the monitoring mechanism in the Philippines, and how it can create an impact to the lives of child domestic workers around the world. I challenged them that "if the Philippines done to this, then they can do it as well"

We are very excited to attend tomorrow and other session, and we hope to lobby individual representative to support the issue of child domestic worker and to STAND WITH US!

Children's champions

2011-06-01T11:31:00.000+01:00

hello my name is Inela and I am a student at European Institute of University of Geneva;
I am extremely happy to meet those childrens, who are Champios not only about their courage and their amazing job, but they are Champions also in our heart.
I wish them all the best and a very good luck for today :)

Just like a dream

2011-05-31T21:09:00.000+01:00

Hello I am called Angel, I am from Tanzania, I am a representative of child domestic workers at the ILO conference in Geneva. My trip was very fantastic it was like a dream because I never thought I would come here to meet with the people from Anti-Slavery and Children Unite and my fellows from different countries - the Phlippines and Costa Rica. And just to the see the ILO and meet ILO members. As the time goes I become more comfortable with the care and treatment I'm getting from my team members and colleagues. Today was very good because I met with the people from Oak Foundation and I have only seen their names on my visa papers!! I'm a bit worried about tomorrow because I'm going to meet the official members in high positions. But I believe that I will be able to express the opinion of child domestic workers, I will be understood and they will take action on our recommendations and our opinions.

I think God will help us and we will be able to make it.

Thanks

Angel

My trip to Geneva

2011-05-31T20:56:00.001+01:00

Hello I am called Angelina Joseph, I am 17 years old, I am from Tanzania. I am very happy with the journey here what makes me happy is just to fly because I have never been on a flight and this is my first time. We are very happy to see different kinds of people, this is my first time as well. I have enjoyed the food and the drinks which was served on the flight by the hostess. I was very afraid when I walked on the escalator for the first time - I jumped on it!!

I am even surprised by the buses in Geneva we don't have them in Tanzania. I am feeling good about tomorrow's event. Tomorrow is my chance to talk about child domestic workers - I'm not afraid. I have been enjoying this evening meal the type of food I had today is very nice it's the same as the type of food I have in my country (spaghetti and pork).

Children's champions arrive in Geneva today

2011-05-30T17:13:00.000+01:00

We are calling the children and young people who have come to lobby the ILO 'Children's Champions' because they will be championing the views of over 250 children around the world at the ILO's conference this year.

They have been chosen by their colleagues and peers to take on the role of 'champion' and have all taken part in consultations where child domestic workers voiced their views about the forthcoming ILO convention on domestic work. All the children's champions are currently working as a child domestic worker or are former child domestic workers so they will be speaking from personal experience when they star to lobby ILO delegates on Wednesday.

Today they are arriving, tired from long journeys but happy that they're here (in Tanzania they said they were convinced they would not get the visa). Tonight we will have all welcome meal and get to know each other a little more.

For me, it is wonderful to meet these young women after having only had a name on a form and a date of birth for 3 months. Unfortunately, I can't introduce you to them yet (I need to get their consent to use their real names!!)...but from now on I hope that some of the posts on this blog with be from these five young women. Look out for their names!!

Signing off for now....Helen, UK

Global March behind child domestic workers and the ILO convention

2011-05-29T16:51:00.006+01:00

The Global March has issued a statement calling for adoption of new Convention and Recommendation. Like us, Global March support article 4 and paragraph 4 which will be discussed in just a few days during the ILC.

Global March against Child Labour is a movement to mobilise worldwide efforts to protect and promote the rights of all children, especially the right to receive a free, meaningful education and to be free from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be harmful to the child's physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development."

The Global March Movement began with a worldwide march when thousands of people marched together to jointly put forth the message against child labour. The march culminated at the ILO Conference in Geneva where the voice of the marchers was heard and reflected in the draft of the ILO Convention against the worst forms of child labour. The following year, the Convention was unanimously adopted at the ILO Conference in Geneva.

SIDE EVENT ON JUNE 1st

2011-05-27T17:23:00.000+01:00

Our five 'children's champions' (former and current child domestic workers) will be speaking at a side event at the during the ILC:

The event will take place on:

WEDNESDAY 1st JUNE
UN PALAIS DES NATIONS

ROOM XXII
13:00 - 15:00

Title: Protecting Young Domestic Workers from Abuse and Exploitation

The event is a panel discussion on the occasion of the 17th Session of the Human Rights Council entitled

The event is hosted by the UN Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, the Permanent Mission of Costa Rica and the Permanent Mission of Uruguay as well as Anti-Slavery International and Children Unite. It is being organised to raise-awareness about child domestic servitude and to discuss the role of human rights as a means of protecting them.

This event coincides with the 100th International Labour Conference, at which a proposed Convention on Decent Work for Domestic Workers will be discussed. The draft offered for discussion includes two provisions specifically relevant to child domestic workers.

The event aims to raise awareness about the situation of child domestic workers. It will provide an opportunity to discuss how the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other human rights standards and mechanisms can be used to address this crucial issue, and how grassroots efforts can be supported by the UN Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery.

In addition to leading international experts, the event will include testimonies from former child domestic workers who have escaped exploitation and are now advocating for their rights.

PROGRAM

Chair: H.E.M. Christian Guillermet-Fernández Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations Office at Geneva

Speakers: Mr Hatem Kotrane, Member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child

Voices of child domestic workers: Former child domestic workers from Costa Rica, the Philippines and Tanzania

Ms Myrtle Witbooi: Chair of the International Domestic Workers’ Network (IDWN)

For more information please contact Ms Melanie Clerc at slaveryfund@ohchr.org or Ms Audrey Guichon at a.guichon@antislavery.org

views from children on the new ILO convention

2011-05-23T12:59:00.001+01:00

A report outlining the views of 250 child domestic workers from from seven countries outlines how the current ILO Convention and Recommendation on Decent Work for Domestic Workers should protect them.

Young domestic workers are asking delegates at the ILC to support the adoption of article and paragraph 4 of the Convention and Recommendation on Decent Work for Domestic Workers. The report, in French, Spanish and English details why these two provisions should be supported by ILO delegates and implemented at national level following the ratification.

To read the report please see the page 'ILC report 2011'

Le projet Giving Voice

2011-05-20T06:22:00.000+01:00

Le projet Giving Voice se deroule aujourd'hui en coulisses, alors que Audrey, Helen et moi (Christine) preparons notre arrivee, ainsi que celles des enfants domestiques et leurs accompagnatrices, a Geneve. Le rapport refletant les demandes globales des enfants est enfin pret, en anglais, francais et espagnol. Quelques questions logistiques sont encore a resoudre, les itineraires de chacun en provenance de Manille, San Jose et Dar-es-Salaam sont aussi a finaliser, mais nous ne nous laissons pas abattre et attendons avec impatience le moment ou tous nos efforts conjoints culmineront a Geneve, a partir du 30 mai.
Les enfants seront en ligne chaque jour pour recevoir vos messages de soutien, vos commentaires et questions.
Joignez vous a nous... a bientot! Christine

Child domestic workers at the ILC in 2011

2011-05-11T10:57:00.000+01:00

The first post for almost a year but it is good news...Anti-Slavery International and Children Unite will be bringing six child domestic workers from Tanzania, Costa Rica and the Philippines to the ILC again to lobby ILC delegates on the ILO's proposed convention on decent work for domestic workers.

We are currently organising passports and visas for the six children - who were selected by our partner organisations. We are also writing a global report from consultations on the new convention that have been held in seven countries with child domestic workers ...watch this space....we will post it online as soon as it is ready.

Watch us on TV

2010-06-19T15:17:00.000+01:00

Although this was on Swiss TV last week - we've only just had time to add it to our blog...the report is in French.

Click here to watch

Celebrating World Day Against Child Labour

2010-06-13T07:02:00.001+01:00

Friday 11th June is World Day Against Child Labour - it was a day that we were going to spend evaluating our time here in Geneva. We looked at the two events that we spoke at - the public event organised by Human Rights Watch on 8th June and the 'side' event that we organised at the ILO on 9th June.

We also wanted to learn from our time lobbying - what happened when it went well and what happened when it didn't. In particular, what advice would children's champions give to others if they were to lobby.

But during our evaluation workshop we had a call from IPEC with an invitation to speak at the Child Labour Day celebrations in the Place des Nations in front of hundreds of Swiss children. Foulera and Komi spoke alongside the Director of IPEC (the ILO's International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour) about their lives as child domestic workers and why they were in Geneva. Children asked them questions about their lives and the whole thing was reported quite widely by the Swiss press.

This was a day for reflection and celebration. After celebrating Child Labour Day we thanked each other for our contributions to a successful trip. The success was down to the hard work of the whole team, which included 13 of us!! So, as well as the children's champions, we need to thank the following people:

Rosela Millones: Guardian for Evelyn & Fiama who competently and lovingly guided and empowered the Peruvian girls to take on some enourmous challenges.

Denise Hubado: Guardian for Fouler and Komi whose courage and strength supported the Togolese team to be brave themselves and to become excellent spokespeople for child domestic workers.

Sister Nisha: Guardian for the Indian champion, Sujatha whose loving support enabled Sujatha to find her voice and to speak with passion for the sake of other child domestic workers.

Marie Froysa Hole - who, in between exams for her studies in Geneva, produced the welcome pack for champions, found the hotel, helped analyse the legal arguments, lobbied, translated and was a complete superstar volunteer!!

Mariela Gonzalez (Anti-Slavery International) - who lobbied, translated, organised - all with a huge amount of passion, energy and humour. Mariela has been the glue of the group - binding us together.

Audrey Guichon (Anti-Slavery International) - who facilitated, translated, lobbied furiously and negotiated...she was an excellent spokesperson for child domestic workers, answered difficult questions about the issue and always, always gave opportunities to the children's champions to speak themselves.

Jonathan Blabrough (Children Unite) - who was our 'rock'. His calm and caring confidence, coupled with his deep understanding of the issue and knowledge of the ILO processes supported us throughout.

And, because it feels too wierd to thank myself, I just want to say that I couldn't have been more proud of being part of this amazing team.

Helen Veitch (Children Unite).

To see photos of this event please follow this ILO link.

Please comment

2010-06-13T07:01:00.000+01:00

I hope I have enabled this site so that you can now comment on blogs! Please try

Third and last day at the ILC

2010-06-11T05:33:00.000+01:00

Our last day was spent deep in lobbying - we spoke to government and worker representatives from many different countries as they were leaving or entering the plenary meetings. This is the most intense kind of work where children's champions had to get their messages across in just four minutes to delegates. It was hard work.

Overall the reaction was very positive to the young people - the delegates were supportive - many of them showed their support by filling in postcards with our recommendations or taking our information packs. They were often quite shocked when the champions told them how young they had been when they started working (aged 7, 9, 13).

In the evening Fiama spoke at a public rally - just in front of the UN - that was organised by domestic worker's groups from across the world. Fiama spoke beautifully - her speach was clear and strong and she made us proud. Thank you Fiama.

Also, thank you Evelyn, Komi, Sujatha and Foulera - everyone gave it their all for our last day at the ILC.

Second day at the ILC

2010-06-10T10:13:00.000+01:00

On our second day we held a side event where we launched our 'stand with us' film and the Children's Champions spoke about their experiences as child domestic workers and why the four recommendations we are lobbying for are important to them.

The event was chaired by Jo Becker from Human Rights Watch. Joost Kooijmans from the ILO's International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) spoke about the legal framework of the ILO and was very supportive of the need for special protection for young domestic workers and said that this convention was important because it will ensure that domestic workers will be treated like other workers. He announced that IPEC will be publishing global estimates on the numbers of child domestic workers later this year. Florencia Kabatingan, the Chairperson of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines spoke of the importance of protecting domestic workers and their fundamental freedoms and rights. Florencia reiterated the support from workers and unions for child domestic workers.

The event was very well attended - particularly by government representatives from the ILO. In a group of young people attended who are at the Human Rights Council in a similar position to our children's champions but talking about juvenile justice.

I didn't want to stop talking...

2010-06-10T09:18:00.000+01:00

For the first time I have come out of Bangalore and I am coming to a meeting as big as this and I like it. I like the 4 recommendations we are asking for - in particular I think that children should go to school not to work. I think that children should not keep silent, they should talk about their life as domestic workers. I have come to know that there are so many other children from other countries also working as domestic workers and suffering from various issues. I got a chance to speak yesterday at a side meeting at the UN, it was good that this event was organised and I didn't want to stop talking. I have not had the chance to study like the children that I work with in Gowpyatha Makkla Kendra (a rehabilitation centre in Bangalore that works children rescued from child labour) so I have not had this kind of opportunity before.

I thought I would be lonely here but there is always someone with me to speak Kannada and to explain. I am happy to help the children back home by speaking here.

Sujatha

2010-06-09T17:08:00.000+01:00

Children's Champions at the United Nations Palais des Nations, today:

Back row: Sujatha, Komi & Foulera

Front row: Fiama & Evelyn

la voix des enfants

2010-06-09T13:10:00.000+01:00

Nous sommes venus a la reunion du BIT pour parler de nos recomendations et nous sommes passes a la tele. Ils nous on filme, ils nous ont pose des questions. Ils etaient deux hommes, un pour nous poser les questions, un pour nous filmer. Il nous a fait jouer les scenes, monter les escaliers, dotnner des invitations, parler aux gens a la cafeteria de notre recommendation.

Apres, nous sommes partis dans une salle pour qu'il nous pose des questions et que nous repondions. Foulera est allee en premier, ils lui ont pose des questions, elle a bien repondu. Apres j'y suis alle, ils m'ont pose des questions sur les recommendations et je leur ai explique les 4 recommendations: par rapport a l'age, par rapport au contrat, par rapport aux abus, et la quatrieme, par rapport a la visibilite. Je me suis senti a l'aise et j'ai bien repondu aux questions.

J'aimerais me regarder la television pour voir commetn j'ai parle. Le necessaire c'est que les autorites du BIT tiennent compte de notre recommendations et les introduisent dans la convention du droit des travailleurs domestiques.

La television s'appelle TSR et ca va passer aussi sur TV5.

komi tokpa

Dias Maravillosos

2010-06-09T12:52:00.000+01:00

Estoy en Ginebra desde hace cuatro dias y me han pasado muchas cosas nuevas interesantes y lindas. Conoci a mis amigos de Togo e India que son Trabajadores infantiles domesticos como yo y todos me caen realmente bien.

Me siento tan contenta y de alguna manera LIBRE de haber podido expresar mis experiencias, sentimientos y deseos a las personas de la OIT, es algo increible nunca imagine estar aqui con estas personas importantes para ayudar a ninos como yo, es algo muy encantador , es lo mejor que me a podido pasar!!! Ojala otros ninos puedan experimentar lo que yo estoy pasando y puedan sentir la misma felicidad que estoy sintiendo.

Creo que soy muy afortunada de estar en un pais encantador, con mis amigos y ayudando a ninos como yo es ... Woww!!

Yo creo que este es solo el comienzo de algo grande para todos y estoy segura que seremos grandes personas que seguiremos apoyando a los ninos del mundo porque desde ahora ya somos grandes personas.

First day at the ILC

2010-06-09T12:47:00.000+01:00

Yesterday was our first day at the International Labour Conference. The conference is held at the United Nations in Geneva – at the Palais des Nations – a suitably enormous, complex and awe-inspiring building. We are basing ourselves in the Serpentine Café next to the committee room where members of the ILO are debating the proposed convention on domestic work.

So, the Children’s Champions were able to observe the ILO in discussion in a sectioned off part of the committee room that is for NGOs. As NGOs are not allowed to speak during the discussions, the Children’s Champions had to grab delegates as they were entering or leaving the committee room and snatch a three minute conversation with them.

At lunch, the Togolese Champions were interviewed by Swiss TV and will be on the lunchtime news today.

In the evening the whole team attended an event organised by Human Rights Watch for the Genevan public. Although it was a very formal event, and all of us speaking were quite nervous the Champions spoke inspiringly about their lives as child domestic workers and answered some quite difficult questions from the audience.

Our team at the International Labour Conference

2010-06-09T05:26:00.000+01:00

Five young domestic workers are in Geneva, attending the International Labour Organisation's annual conference on behalf of children from Africa, Asia and Latin America.

From Togo

FOULERA started working as a child aged 9 in domestic work. She is now the spokesperson for an advisory group of child domestic workers in Togo. She speaks pragmatically but eloquently about the suffering she and others like her have been through.

KOMI started as a child domestic worker when he was also 9 and he still works for the same employer. He is now also on the Togolese advisory group of child domestic workers. Although he is quietly spoken, he is an eloquent ‘champion’ for child domestic workers and, eventually, wants to work on their behalf at the ILO.

From India

SUJATHA was pushed into domestic work at 13 when she refused to get married. Although she is very quiet, when she thinks of the suffering of child domestic workers she becomes passionate and speaks with much conviction. She is now helping other children in domestic work to discuss their problems.

From Peru

FIAMA was just 7 when she started working as a child domestic worker. She speaks very powerfully about the need for children to know their rights, she is the youngest of the group (at 15) but speaks with a wisdom and maturity beyond her years. She is now a ‘promotor’ of children’s rights with child domestic workers in her community.

EVELYN was also aged 7 when she started work – looking after someone else’s children in their home. At 19 she is following in the footsteps of her mother and is quickly becoming a community leader for child domestic workers. She speaks with much emotion and passion about the need for solidarity amongst children.

This is our team – all except the eldest, Evelyn, are still in domestic work. I want to salute their courage in coming to the UN, in speaking to ILO members at a very formal but important event for child domestic workers. I am so proud to be with them.

Helen, Children Unite.

Preparation day for International Labour Conference

2010-06-07T22:33:00.001+01:00

Here we are in Geneva and it feels amazing to have managed to bring five young domestic workers from India, Peru and Togo to the International Labour Conference. Although we had great difficulty getting visas for three of the young people...we made it (with a lot of help...thank you all the staff at Human Rights Watch and the ILO in Geneva!!). Our first day was spent preparing for the conference - finding out how the International Labour Conference (ILC) works and, in particular, how the 'children's champions' (young people who are acting as champions for child domestic workers from 6 countries across the world) will lobby the ILO members. We are under no illusions that this will be an easy task - but we are motivated, we are committed and, today, we started to see the connections between the lives of child domestic workers from different cultures and contexts - despite our language barriers!

Tomorrow we visit the UN for the first time to join the ILC and to lobby for our recommendations.

Advocacy film posted on 'you tube'

2010-05-30T23:21:00.000+01:00

An eight minute advocacy film that highlights the stories of child domestic workers in India, Peru and Togo was posted on You Tube and is now embedded on this site. Please watch it, leave your comments and send the link on to your friends or colleagues. The film was shot between December 2009 and February 2010 with the help of Living Lens - a participatory video production company. Much to the consternation of many adults, Rose and Keren from Living Lens gave children and young people in the three countries the cameras and trained them in how to use them. The children filmed each other telling their stories of domestic work, they discussed and acted out 'good employers' and 'bad employers', they interviewed each other to find out what it would be like to represent other children's views. The result is a short film that includes elements of the workshops and supports global recommendations made by child domestic workers on a proposed ILO convention on domestic work.

The film will be officially launched next week - on the 9th June at the International Labour Conference in Geneva.

Launch of 'stand with us' blog

2010-04-28T16:50:00.000+01:00

Today we're starting the 'stand with us' blog