United Nations
Press Release GA/SHC/3430
31 October 1997

War against Child Labour Can Be Won within 15 Years, ILO Representative Tells Third Committee <

MOHAMMED SALEH (Bahrain) said that the tragic situation facing children in many parts of the world today should not be continued into the twenty-first century. Statistics showed that 15 per cent of children worldwide lived in poverty. Many children lived in exploitative situations, and many more were exposed to natural disasters, violence and armed conflicts. Thousands of children had been killed in wars over the past decade, and for every child killed, three others had been wounded, handicapped or suffered psychological trauma.

Violations and practices against children and other savage and inhumane practices must be condemned, he said. The Government of Bahrain had acceded to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and had achieved great progress in the protection of children. There had been a reduction in the child mortality rate and a number of institutions had been established to protect children. The efforts of the United Nations system in protecting and promoting the rights of children must be commended. Nevertheless, the international community must work harder to consolidate the concept of the right of the child to a better life.