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    THE GLOBAL MARCH AGAINST CHILD LABOR 2000
    "Intensifying the Ratification Campaign for ILO Convention 182"

    Organized by:
    The Philippine Global March Secretariat
    and Taskforce 182++Partners

    BACKGROUND

    The Global March Against Child Labour, organized by a coalition of social organizations from over 100 countries, has become the "largest social movement ever for the benefit of children." Launched in the Philippines on 17 January 1998, it travelled over 80,000 kilometers across five continents and mobilized millions of people before culminating in Geneva where the International Labour Organization drafted a new Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour.

    After a year of creating international consensus on the need to eradicate worst forms of child labour and provide alternatives for these children, the new ILO Convention 182 was adopted unanimously in Geneva in June 1999. As the buck stops at member-states to ratify the new convention, all initiatives are now focused on the early ratification of this new instrument in the country level.

    In the Philippines, a taskforce was formed to facilitate the ratification of the new ILO Convention. There were already initial mobilizations done like the campaign for the passage of House Bill 6785 and Senate Bill 1530 and other series of related activities. In all these efforts, the calls of the Global March came forefront and the Philippine Secretariat maintained its role as a lead partner in pushing for the immediate ratification of the new convention. While there are various initiatives at different levels, there is still a need to enhance and coordinate these efforts to create greater impact on the general public and among policy/decision-makers who are the major stakeholders in the ratification process.

    In celebration of the second anniversary of the launching of the Global March Against Child Labor, the Philippine Secretariat will be holding again a massive campaign in Metro Manila and in the regions to intensify the efforts calling for the early ratification of the new ILO Convention in the Philippines and the passage of enabling legislations on child labour. This campaign shall also address the apparent lack of understanding of the new convention and other child labour bills, and about issues related to child labour.

    As the Philippine Secretariat of the Global March, and the lead organization of the Global March kick-off and 1st anniversary celebrations, the Visayan Forum Foundation will again take the lead in the 2000 campaign activity. As such, it shall be the focal organization to organize and facilitate activities, and coordinate with organizations for the mobilization. It shall coordinate closely with its partners in the newly created Taskforce 182++, all of whom have participated in the past celebrations of the Global March.

    OBJECTIVES OF THE 2000 GLOBAL MARCH CAMPAIGN:

    This year's campaign aims to contribute to the elimination of child labour through policy advocacy and social mobilization in support for the ratification of the new ILO Convention 182.

    Specifically, it aims:

    1. To lobby for the early ratification of the new ILO Convention 182 in the Philippine Senate and other concerned government agencies in the executive branch.
    2. To disseminate information and increase public attention on child labour issues and the need for legal instruments to protect the working children.;
    3. To gather signatures from the public, especially from the studentry and youth, to support the ratification campaign for the ILO Convention 182, and the passage of enabling legislations on child labour and other related bills.

    MARCH TO THE PHILIPPINE SENATE ON JANUARY 17, 2000

    In time for the Senate's first session of the new millennium, at least 5,000 people, composed of child labourers, child advocates, students and civil society representatives will hold a peaceful rally in front of the Senate building to call for the early ratification of the new ILO Convention 182. The group will first assemble at the Film Center of the Philippines at 1 p.m., and march towards the Senate Building. A mini-program will be held in front of the Senate at 3 p.m. which includes the reading of solidarity statements and the letter of appeal to the Senate calling for the ratification of the new convention. While the program continues, selected representatives shall proceed to the Session Hall of the Senate to attend its first regular session. During the session the delegates will hold a simple program, which includes the singing of the National Anthem and the Global March theme song by child labourers and advocates, and the symbolic turnover to the Senate President and other Senators of the initial signatures gathered nationwide to support the new convention. Simultaneously during the week, a photo-exhibit on child labour will be held at the lobby of the Philippine Senate. Banners and Global March footprints will also be posted within the Senate vicinity to herald the weeklong affair at the Senate.

    SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN AND AWARENESS-RAISING ACTIVITIES

    While the Secretariat is organizing for the march to the Senate, it will conduct signature campaigns in various schools, churches, communities, and among partner organizations and agencies in Metro Manila and in the regions. The output will be a compilation of initial signatures and thumbmarks which will be presented to the Philippine Senate on January 17, 2000. After the salvo at the Senate, a series of public awareness-raising activities will follow in Metro Manila and in the regions, such as public debates in universities, appearances in major television shows and press conferences. Activities in schools will take the form of fora, symposia, press briefing for school publications and film shows which will also serve as venues to gather more signatures to support the ratification of the new ILO Convention 182. Advocacy kits translated in various versions will also be printed out and distributed for the multi-media during major press conferences in Metro Manila, Bacolod and Davao.