Experience of Advocacy for Child Labor Policy: A Case Study on Bangladesh

1. Experience of Advocacy for Child Labor Policy: A Case Study on Bangladesh Ratan Sarkar Executive Director, INCIDIN Bangladesh & Coordinator TWC www.incidinb.org WORKSHOP ON RIGHTS BASED APPROACHES Copenhagen, Denmark October 2006

2. An Overview Bangladesh CL Program Networking and campaign for policy advocacy Child rights programming on CL INCIDIN ASK SEEP SCSD Shoisab SUF Nari Moitree CPD Child Brigade & Child led organization (CLO) Capacity and Knowledge

3. An Overview Bangladesh CL Program Rights of Working Children UNCRC

4. Education Program Partnership with community Education in own Language & pace Compensation to Stop income fall Participation of children in planning Refugee Bihari children at work Certified level of Education & skill

5. Improving working condition and access to health and civic care facilities Education Program Mainstreaming the working children with the identity of “students at work” Extending quality education for expanding livelihood option Creating a model for the government for education of working children Participation of children in planning Ensuring community participation and accountability Refugee Bihari children at work

6. Skill Training Focus on children’s preference and market opportunity Market based skills Credit for parents Job placement Institutional Approach Enabling the parents financially to relief the burden on children Marginalized children in Hazardous work NFE

7. Child Rights Programming Rights Based Provision Participation Of CL Assessment Of CR situation Protection Planning based On CR Framework Participation Need Based Service delivery Advocacy Service

8. Children’s Rights Best Interest Non discrimination Participation Survival & Development Children’s Rights

9. An Overview Bangladesh CL Program Networking and campaign for policy advocacy Child rights programming on CL INCIDIN ASK SEEP Shoisab SCSD SUF CPD Nari Moitree Child Brigade & Child led organization (CLO) Capacity and Knowledge

10. Child Led Organization

11. An Overview Bangladesh CL Program Networking and campaign for policy advocacy Child rights programming on CL INCIDIN ASK SEEP Shoisab SCSD SUF CPD Nari Moitree Child Brigade & Child led organization (CLO) Capacity and Knowledge

12. Problem Analysis Age of children varies in laws Poverty is the most important cause for child labor. Children contribute 20-25% of family Income of the poor households Limited & time-lagged efforts in enacting and implementing legal instruments. Lack of child protection No law for informal sector Lack of access to education & development

13. Bangladesh Government Primary Duty Bearers Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Ministry of Labor and Employment Ministry of Primary and Mass Education National Children Council The Directorate of Women &Children Affairs Ministry of Law and Parliamentary Affairs

14. Support Groups NGO /INGO Trade Union CSO/ ICSO Private Sector Multilateral Org Bilateral Donor

15. Traditional policy makers and dogmatic social leaders The Opponents The employers with direct financial advantage in cheap labor

16. Agendas of Advocacy Pro-CRC National Plan on CL Pro-CRC National Policy on CL Ensuring Working Children’s Participation at Policy Level Pro-CRC Legal Reform on CL Pro-CRC Informal Code of Conducts on CL

17. Partnership with SCSD PARTNER NGOS SCSD Collective Knowledgebase Mutual Capacity building Child led organization of working children Children’s priorities NETWORK: Together with Working Children CRP-based program on child laborer Greater Networking

18. Way to National CL Policy Mutual respect and access Government TWC Research on Child Labor NGO Pilot Programs on CL UN Agencies Psychosocial Care Capacity SCA

19. Way to National CL Policy Greater Networking (Global-Regional-National) Mutual respect and access Child and adult civil society activism Government TWC Mutual Capacity building Children’s Organization Collective Knowledgebase

20. Way to National CL Policy Joint Work-plan & Technical Assistance Joint Committee ADVOCACY ADVOCACY Mutual respect and access Government TWC Global SC Alliance Draft National CL Policy MoU with MOLE Local Partners & SCSD

21. National Child Labor Policy Joint Work-plan & Technical Assistance TWC is now sitting in the drafting committee & providing Consultant Bringing in Civil Societies Agenda in GOB’s CL Policy Mutual respect and access Government TWC

22. An Overview Bangladesh CL Program Networking and campaign for policy advocacy Child rights programming on CL INCIDIN ASK SEEP Shoisab SCSD SUF CPD Nari Moitree Child Brigade & Child led organization (CLO) Capacity and Knowledge

23. Lessons Learned on CRP • Partners have developed conceptual clarity on CRP • Partners’ capacity in applying the CRP has been built and strengthened Child Rights Situation analysis/mapping conducted

24. Lessons Learned on CRP • The scope of participation of children in overall planning has been broaden • A new partnership in planning between partners and SCD – collective ownership Clarity on advocacy strategy and actions

25. Thank You & Welcome to Discussion….