Breaking the Cycle: Elimination of Child Labour in Forced Displacement Contexts in Kenya

As the Third Edition of the Employment and Labour Relations Court Annual Symposium and Exhibition – ELRASE III, convened under the theme, Elimination of all Forms of Child Labour and Access to Justice, entered its second day, participants focused on the topic; “Breaking the Cycle: Elimination of Child Labour in Forced Displacement Contexts in Kenya,” The forum deliberated on the drivers of child labour in refugee and host communities, innovative approaches that combine protection, education and livelihoods to prevent child labour, as well as policy and programmatic actions to accelerate progress towards the elimination of child labour in refugee and displacement affected areas.

They examined the statistics and the situation of refugees in the country even as they acknowledged the brutal and significant impact of child labour in the country. Further, the forum scrutinised the importance of documentation for refugees to enable them access services and be protected. They also discussed measures being undertaken by various stakeholders including government, such as policies and programmes, that are meant to protect children against child labour as well as stemming the menace.

Deliberations identified poverty as one of the major risk factors that leads to negative coping mechanism where children are pushed into child labour for survival. They underscored the need for accessible and enforceable remedies with regard to child labour and called for a whole inclusive approach noting that judicial remedies alone are not sufficient. They commended the establishment of mobile courts that have enabled access to justice at refugee camps.

The forum also discussed the manifestations, experiences and mainstreaming of international and regional conventions, protocols, as well as, Kenyan laws, policies and best practices, in elimination of child labour including worst forms of child labour and access to justice, focusing on experiences, challenges and recommendation on the way forward in the Kenyan context.