Why is it so important to eliminate all forms of child labour?
An approach that is not aimed at eliminating all forms of child labour (but merely the worst forms) often results in ad hoc solutions, the replacement of one group of children by another and continuance of the problem. Such an approach does not result in the protection of all children from economic exploitation, hazardous work and work that impedes with participation to education. Because poverty is not the main determinant of child labour, it is through an integrated education and child labour policy in developing countries and in donor countries possible to also offer poor children full-time education and to fight all forms of child labour that are detrimental to a childs development and/or are an obstacle to a childs education. Child labour is a problem that can be solved by concerted action, political will and financial resources. The poverty argument can therefore never be an obstacle to each childs right to formal, full-time and quality education.
