Impacting female waste-pickers through your contribution

As of the 4^th of August 2020, the ILO Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour (No. 182) has received universal declaration. This entails a widespread acknowledgement and commitment on the importance of children’s health and prosperity. Although the estimates of child labourers are decreasing, it continues to persist in many societies. The actual implementation and elimination of child labour still requires action.

The United Nations Human Rights Council has adopted the “Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights”, whereby children’s rights take a prominent place. Principle 2 states that business should contribute to the elimination of child labour, including all business activities and business relationships.

We acknowledge the complexity of the concept, including its various social and economic causes. Child labourers in the wastepaper industry are often children of waste-pickers themselves, which can perpetuate a cycle of poverty and social inequality (ILO, 2018). This demonstrates the imminent need for improved working and income conditions for female waste-pickers in the supply chain.

This joint statement of the consortium partners of Miss-Collect acknowledges the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights of the UNHRC. We seek to take our responsibility herein and contribute to a child labour free value chain in the wastepaper industry. Within all business activities and business relationships, we hold these principles into account.

Miss-Collect believes that all children should have the opportunity to a childhood without labour and to be able to receive an education.

“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children” – Nelson Mandela. 

Miss-Collect