GNAT commended government

Accra, June 11, GNA - The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), on Wednesday commended government for ratifying ILO Convention 182 and enacting several legislations concerning the protection of the rights of children in Ghana.

"We wish, however, to urge government and all law enforcement agencies to ensure that all citizens adhere to these legislations", a statement signed by Mrs. Irene T. Duncan Adanusa, General Secretary of Child Labour, which falls on Friday June 12, 2009. It marks the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the landmark ILO Convention Number 182.

The statement said "We also call upon all Ghanaians, particularly, District, Municipal, Metropolitan Assemblies, Teachers, Chiefs, Community Leaders, Religious Bodies, Members of Parliament and all families that engage the services of girls as domestic workers to assist in our efforts to end child labour".

It said "We will all be assisting to increase the opportunities for girls engaged in Child Labour to have quality education, let us remind ourselves that educating girls is one of the most effective ways of tackling poverty."

"We concede that the estimated 100 million girls involved in child labour around the world undertake similar types of work as boys. However, it is pertinent to point out that girls often endured additional hardships and faced extra risks." The statement said girls were all too often exposed to some of the worst forms of child labour, mostly in hidden work situations. It cited that in Ghana, many girls were engaged in domestic work in third party households hidden from the public eye leading, particularly, to dangers and risks and extreme exploitation of girls. The statement said many girls took on unpaid household work for their families including childcare, cooking, cleaning and fetching water and fuel.

It said girls also had to combine long hours of household chores with some form of economic activity outside the household. The statement said the combine effect of this "double burden" was that very little time and opportunity was left for school attendance. Other activities lined up for the celebration included a symposium and a walk by school children in Accra/Tema. The Convention addresses the need for action to tackle the worst forms of Child Labour.

Whilst celebrating the progress made during the past 10 years, the day will highlight the continuing challenges encountered in global efforts at eliminating Child labour, with a focus on the exploitation of girls in Child Labour. 10 June 09