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Technical Cooperation Project Summary

Project Title

National Program for the Prevention and Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor in Ukraine

Region/Country

EUROPE/Ukraine

Project Duration

March 1, 2001 – August  31, 2006 (revised)

Fiscal Year & Funding Level

FY 2001: USD 1,127,980 (revised)

Problem to be Addressed

Child labor in rural and urban areas is a growing problem.  School truancy is increasing, quantitative data on the situation of child labor is lacking, and legal instruments to address child labor are deficient.

Results

The project withdrew 1,617 children and prevented 354 children from the worst forms of child labor (WFCL) including commercial sexual exploitation and street work in Kyiv, Vinnitsa, Donetsk, and Kherson.

Project Objectives

Contribute to the prevention and progressive elimination of child labor, focusing on the worst forms of child labor as defined in ILO Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labor (No. 182).

Intermediate objectives include:

  • Establish child labor monitoring mechanisms and set up and operationalize tracking systems;
  • Strengthen the capacity of Ukraine’s government to enforce child labor policies by means of a) developing a National Policy and Plan of Action based on the National Report on Child Labor drafted by the Ukrainian Institute of Social Research in June 2000; b) reviewing the national legislation and making suggestions to harmonize the legal framework for child labor with international standards; and c) strengthening the capacity of training institutions;
  • Improve awareness and understanding of child labor issues for parents and community leaders through campaigns and a range of pilot projects; and
  • Withdraw child prostitutes, working children in rural areas, and working street children from exploitive and forced work and provide them with educational opportunities, training, and other social protections.

Summary of Activities
  • Promoted the development of the government’s institutional capacity to address child labor and policy development initiatives;
  • Conducted qualitative research to assess the extent and character of the targeted forms of child labor;
  • Built the capacity of governmental and non-governmental agencies to implement direct action activities. Children were withdrawn and prevented from child labor, with priority given to children working in extremely hazardous or abusive conditions, children below the age of 12, and girls; and
  • Raised public awareness throughout the country about child labor.

Grantee

International Labor Organization’s International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (ILO-IPEC)

Implementing Partners

Ministry of Labor and Social Policy; Ukrainian Institute of Social Research; State Committee on Youth Affairs, Sport and Tourism; State Committee on Statistics; Ministry of Justice; Institute of Pedagogy; Institute of Psychology; All-Ukrainian Committee Defense of Children Rights; Ministry of Education and Science; Academy of Labor and Social Relations, Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine; Independent Trade Unions of Miners; Employers’ organizations; Donetska Youth Debate Center; Uspishna Zhinka; Podil Center on Human Rights; Intelectual’na Perspectyva; Information Methodic Debate Center.

Contact Information

Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking

(202) 693-4843