SAARC Human Resource Development Centre (SHRDC) Islamabad, Pakistan Training Course on HRD The Most Effective Tool

l to Eliminate Child Labour in South Asia May 7 12, 2012 Concept Paper Introduction The term child labour is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development1. On the basis of officially available statistics, it is estimated that out of a total of 300 million children in South Asia, aged 5-14 years, 21.6 million children are engaged in child labour2. Almost every member state in the SAARC region is a home to a significant number of child labourers whose capacities could be enhanced through Human Resource Development (HRD) such as education, skill development and training in order to make them effective and productive citizens of the future. 2. Some of the child labour generating factors are parents poverty, illiteracy, socioeconomic scenarios, poor education infrastructure, low level of awareness, high percentage of adult unemployment and underemployment. The perception of early adulthood also adds to the number of child labourers in the region. Moreover, agriculture, debt bondage, children as domestic workers and child trafficking are also among the common grounds for child labour in South Asia. 3. Like other parts of the world most child labourers in South Asia belong to poor families. However, poverty may not be the only reason for child labour. There are certain other factors too that are directly or indirectly related to poverty and lack of education or, broadly speaking, poor HRD provisions. In most of the case education, especially for girls, is not on the priority list of parents. Resultantly children are engaged in work at a very young age. Recent studies show that low standard of education systems also contribute to child labour. These studies relate child labour more to education than poverty3. It is also likely that children who do poorly in school or appear to benefit little from it are likely candidates for early entry into the labour force. Therefore, good quality of education and proper schooling are prerequisites to eliminate child labour in the world.
1

International Labour Organization (ILO), available at http://www.ilo.org/ipec/facts/lang--en/index.htm accessed on March 14, 2012 2 Imran Naseem, Globalization & Child Labour Situation in South Asia, available at http://www.qurtuba.edu.pk/thedialogue/The%20Dialogue/3_4/05_imran_naseem.pdf accessed March 15, 2012 3 Ibid.

Training Course on HRD The Most Effective Tool to Eliminate Child Labour in South Asia

4. HRD through education and training is an essential measure to eradicate poverty and address child labour issues. Poverty and child labour are interrelated as poverty is perpetuated by child labour and vice versa. However, education of good quality has an inverse relationship with both poverty and child labour. The higher the level of education of parents and children the lower will be ratio of poverty and child labour. HRD, thus, can be used to eliminate child labour and eradicate poverty in the SAARC region. A number of best practices are also available in the region where countries or states within countries have successfully addressed the issue of child labour. For example, the success of Kerala state in India in overcoming child labour can be a good example for other states within India. Other member states may also learn from their experiences and replicate the steps in their own countries while making policies to tackle the issue of child labour. 5. The training course on HRD The Most Effective Tool to Eliminate Child Labour in South Asia to be organized by SAARC Human Resource Development Centre (SHRDC), Islamabad will look into greater and bettertargeted policy provisions, measures and responses to address child labour issues in the SAARC region. It will also provide an opportunity to critically analyze the existing situation of HRD and child labour and share best practices available across the region. The training course is specifically designed for child welfare and development agencies, policymakers, semi-government organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) working for children, child labour and HRD in the region. Objectives of Training Course 6. The objectives of the training course are to: Develop a shared understanding of child labour issues in view of present situation in the SAARC region; Contextualize and understand complex socioeconomic situation in the region and suggest measures to address child labour in the region; Develop participants understanding on measures and responses to address child labour through HRD; Exchange relevant information and experiences on HRD as the most effective tool to eliminate child labour within and outside the region; and, Suggest modalities to develop future interventions that may contribute to the regional initiatives for addressing the issue of child labour in the region.

SAARC Human Resource Development Centre (SHRDC), Islamabad, Pakistan

Training Course on HRD The Most Effective Tool to Eliminate Child Labour in South Asia

Approach 7. The training course will be interactive and participatory in discussing concepts and sharing of ideas. Experts from SAARC Member States will make presentations on various aspects while discussion will take the agenda forward. The environment thus created will be participant friendly in all respects. There will be a number of facilitators explaining themes, highlighting the connections, theories and practices related to HRD and child labour. Participants will prepare group reports and present their findings in the final session of the training course. The SHRDC will prepare the training report later on. Methodology 8. To achieve the training objectives, a number of methodologies including lectures and demonstrations, peer work and group work will be used. Resource Persons will arrange activities according to the nature and requirement of their respective themes to make the topics comprehensive and interesting for the participants. After every presentation, there will be a question-and-answer session in which participants will ask questions and/or give their inputs in relation to the topic under discussion. Emphasis will also be given to the group work in which participants are expected to come up with SAARC specific suggestions and recommendations related to the training theme. Case Studies/Exercises 9. In order to gain thorough understanding, participants will be divided into groups to conduct case studies on selected themes. The findings will be shared with each other. After thorough discussion on each theme, group findings will be compiled as group reports. Expected Outcomes of the Training Course 10. Expected outcome of the training course will include: increased availability and use of up-to-date body of knowledge on HRD and child labour at national and regional level; greater awareness among the participants about their roles and responsibilities to tackle the subject issue; and, increased understanding of the measures and responses to eliminating child labour in the region. By the end of the training course, the participants would be able to analyse the policies and programmes on child welfare and development with a view to make them more practical for achieving the desired level of current and future human development. Participants 11. About 28 participants including resource persons are expected to attend the training course. Participants profiles include the following:

SAARC Human Resource Development Centre (SHRDC), Islamabad, Pakistan

Training Course on HRD The Most Effective Tool to Eliminate Child Labour in South Asia

a) Mid-level policymakers/functionaries, master trainers/professionals from government and semi-government organizations working in the areas of child protection, child welfare and development, social sector development, HRD, planning and development, policy analysis and advocacy, and governance; b) Researchers and scholars on social sector issues as well as those working on HRD; and, c) NGOs and private sector representatives. Country Report Preparations 12. Participants of the training course will prepare Country Reports incorporating broad aspects relating to HRD and child labour as well as factors contributing to child labour in their respective countries. They will also make recommendations for future planning and actions in this regard. Logistic Support 13. Travelling cost has to be borne by the Nominating States/Organizations whereas, free boarding and lodging facility in Islamabad shall be arranged by the SHRDC, Islamabad. Date and Duration 14. The training course will be of one week duration w.e.f. May 7-12, 2012.

Venue of the Training Course 15. The training course will be organized in a hotel in Islamabad.

Contact Persons Mr. Rehmat Wali Khan (Focal Person), Education Officer SHRDC, Islamabad Ph: +92-51-9255387, Cell: +92-344-2312524 E-mail: rehmatwalikhan@yahoo.com Dr. Riffat Aysha Anis, Director SHRDC, Islamabad Ph: +92-51-9255159, Fax: +92-51-9255160

SAARC Human Resource Development Centre (SHRDC), Islamabad, Pakistan