Community leaders form Child Labour Prevention Committees

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (ILO News) - In a significant step towards eradicating child labour in Honduras, the Secretariat of Labour and Social Security (SETRASS), in coordination with the International Labour Organization (ILO), UNICEF and the COLOSUCA Commonwealth, held the swearing ceremony for two Child Labour Prevention Committees (CPCTI) in San Juan, Intibucá. The ceremony followed a sensitization and training session involving community leaders from Panila and El Pelón.

The creation of these committees is based on Agreement STSS-177-2021, which establishes the Protocol for the Organization, Training and Legalization of CPCTIs, published in the Official Gazette in July 2021. This protocol aligns with Honduras' commitment to international conventions such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child and ILO's Conventions Nos. 138 and 182 on the minimum age for admission to employment and the elimination of the worst forms of child labour.

SETRASS, through the Directorate General of Social Welfare, led the training and awareness-raising activities for community representatives, with support from the General Confederation of Workers (CGT). The workshops included sessions on the issue of child labour, children's rights, and the responsibilities of CPCTIs. Participants were trained in identifying and protecting children and adolescents at risk, as well as in promoting school retention and educational reintegration.

As a result of this effort, 15 community leaders were officially sworn in to form CPCTIs in Panila and El Pelón. This ceremony formalized their commitment to actively work in preventing child labour in their communities and ensuring the rights of children and adolescents in their respective localities.

Community leaders from the Panila community are sworn in to join the CPCTI San Juan, 2024. @ILO.

The role of the CPCTIs will be fundamental in coordinating community actions in collaboration with local authorities and social organizations. Their functions will include conducting censuses to identify children in child labour, conducting home visits to promote education, and managing work authorizations for adolescent workers.

Additionally, the committees will be responsible for developing and implementing semi-annual work plans with specific actions such as awareness campaigns, educational workshops, and regular follow-up meetings. SETRASS, with technical assistance from the ILO's CLEAR Supply Chains project, will supervise their operation and periodically evaluate their impact, ensuring the achievement of their objectives.

The swearing-in of these committees represents a crucial step forward in the fight against child labour in Honduras, especially in coffee-growing areas. Inter-institutional collaboration and community commitment are essential to ensure that all children can enjoy a protected childhood with access to education. The CPCTIs, now sworn in and active, become key agents in fulfilling this purpose and building a fairer and more equitable future for Honduran children.

Community leaders together with representatives of the San Juan Mayor's Office, SETRASS and the General Workers' Center San Juan, 2024.

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