International Labour Organisation
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is the United Nations' specialised agency for labour issues.
ILO seeks to promote human and labour rights by establishing international standards of basic labour rights: freedom of association, the right to organize, collective bargaining, abolition of forced labour, equality of opportunity and treatment, and other standards regulating conditions across the entire spectrum of work related issues.
The International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) works towards the progressive elimination of child labour by strengthening national capacities to address child labour problems, and by creating a worldwide movement to combat it. Founded by ILO in 1992, IPEC's work is considered especially important in contributing to ILO's Decent Work Agenda.
The impetus of World Scouting's involvement with ILO-IPEC is its interest in youth rights and protection. This interest was formally recognized with the Memorandum of Understanding on Child Labour in 2004.
In terms of advocacy, much of World Scouting's work with ILO-IPEC has been through YEN. Regarding child rights and protection, since 1992 World Scouting and ILO-IPEC have carried out the Extension Programme in Kenya. The Extension Program targets marginalized young people and helps them reintegrate into society by teaching them life and vocational skills.
In view of the common commitment to defending and promoting the rights of children and young people, the partnership between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and World Scouting has continued to grow. An increasing number of joint initiatives between Scouts Organizations and ILO Field and Branch Offices are being developed at the local level, in particular in the framework of the SCREAM – Supporting Children’s Rights through Education, the Arts and the Media – programme ( www.ilo.org/scream).
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is working with World Scouting to address the issue of child labour. This is mainly done through the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC).
