What can you do?
Inform yourselves. The first thing you can do is BE AWARE about the state of child labor in the world, and be informed about the abuses and injustices that go on. It affects you more than you would think. Then you are in a position to go and inform other people about child labor.
Find out if your Government has ratified the ILO Conventions on child labor. See the list of countries that have ratified ILO Convention No. 138 and ILO Convention No. 182. If your government has not ratified the Conventions, write a letter to your government leaders to urge them to do so. If your government has ratified the Conventions, find out what is being done to implement them.
Talk to businesses involved in the production of goods and ask them what measures they take to ensure that the goods they produce are child labor free.
Recruit others into the campaign. In your region, establish contact with other young people in schools and community groups who could work with you in your action against child labor.
Sensitize others. Create a presentation pack to raise awareness on child labor using the resources and photos available on the following web pages: ILO/IPEC campaign and advocacy, ILO/IPEC information resources database, ILO photo gallery.
Awareness-raising. Organize an event to raise awareness about child labor. This could be a play, concert or public debate and you could involve local musicians, actors and artists in your community. Remember to also involve parents and family members, who can be precious sources of knowledge and inspiration. Perhaps you could make posters or write to newspapers or magazines about the issue. What ideas can you come up with to raise awareness about child labor? The SCREAM education pack and the IPEC Youth in Action resources will give you lots of ideas.
Encourage more participation.Involve your wider community in events leading to the World Day against Child Labor observed yearly on 12 June, or organize a child labor awareness week to attract the greatest public attention possible.
Distribute a press release informing and appealing to community groups and universities to join in, and establish contacts in the media for publicizing such events.
Link up with others.You can combine your efforts with those of other people by using the 12 to 12 Community Portal to end child labor. Check into the portal regularly and share your awareness-raising ideas and experiences with other young people from around the world. By sharing your actions you can inspire others to carry out a similar initiative and increase the impact of your efforts!
No individual, no organization, even the largest one, can begin to stop child labor on its own, and no action, even the smallest, can be dismissed as being too small to bring about change. It is only through joining the forces of goodwill on all levels of society that we can hope to