A research carried out in Honiara this year raises alarming rate on child’s labour and trafficking.
This was part of the initial findings on rapid assessment on child conducted by University of South Pacific (USP), Development Service Exchange, Vois Blo Mere and Christian Care Centre on certain young population in the City.
The research was conducted after different stakeholders agreed in the National Child labour and trafficking forum held in Honiara from 26th-28 August, 2014.
Marie Jane Fatiaki, Coordinator of Pacific Sub-Regional Child Labour and Trafficking Programme International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), presented the findings at the second workshop at Mendana Hotel yesterday.
Ms Fatiaki said it was found that there are children (14 yrs old) who are working below the minimum age of employment in the informal sector.
She said there were also children that are involved in commercial sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, selling drugs, begging and doing hazardous work.
Ms Fatiaki said the main causes behind these problems are poverty, family breakdown, peer pressures and unemployment.
She said the workshop was to allow stakeholders to discuss the report and come up with programmes and recommendations to tackle these problems facing the children.
Since 2008, Fiji and Papua New Guinea have benefited from a European Commission funded and International Labour Organisation implemented child labour project called TACKLE-tackling child labour through education, implemented in 12 countries (including eight countries in Africa, two in the Caribbean and Fiji and PNG in the Pacific).
The TACKLE project strengthened the capacity of the Fiji and PNG governments, social partners and civil society groups to implement policies and strategies to address child labour issues, conduct research and training and implement legislative reviews and conduct child labour inspections.
The International Labour Organisation Pacific Sub-Regional child labour and trafficking project extends TACKEL technical support to Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Samoa through stakeholders forums, training, research, and planning.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
