As part of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) held in the Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, a collaborative effort involving the League of Arab States, the Arab Labour Organisation, the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND), and the Arab Council for Childhood and Development led to the organisation of a regional meeting on "The Impact of Climate Change on Child Labour in the Arab Region." The event took place on 8 December at the Pavilion of the League of Arab States in the Blue Zone within Expo City, the designated headquarters of COP28 in Dubai.
The primary objective of the meeting was to illuminate the repercussions of climate change on the issue of child labour. The aim was to formulate a set of recommendations and interventions that would enhance adaptation to climate change in alignment with approaches consistent with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Sustainable Development Goals. This recognition stems from the understanding that the climate crisis is not merely an escalating threat but a life-threatening reality, with profound impacts on children, including those engaged in the labour market, their families, their future, and consequently, their communities. United Nations statistics underscore the alarming presence of 160 million working children globally, representing a tenth of the world's child population, with approximately 79 million of them subjected to exploitative conditions.
The regional meeting commenced with opening remarks delivered by distinguished leaders, including Her Excellency Ambassador Dr. Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, Assistant Secretary-General and head of the Social Affairs Sector of the League of Arab States, His Excellency Mr. Fayez Al-Mutairi, Director-General of the Arab Labour Organisation, and Dr. Hassan Al-Biblawi, Secretary-General of the Arab Council for Childhood and Development. The gathering was honoured by the presence of Her Highness Sheikha Dr. Shamma bint Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan Cultural and Educational Institutions, as well as Her Excellency Al-Reem Al-Falasi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood in the United Arab Emirates, and several experts in the field of development.
Noteworthy recorded interventions were presented by His Excellency Dr. Nasser Al-Qahtani, Executive Director of AGFUND, and His Excellency Dr. Najat Mualla, Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, addressing the critical issue of halting violence against children.
Dr. Elie Mikhael, a professor at the Lebanese University, delivered a comprehensive working paper on "The Impact of Climate Change on Child Labour in the Arab Region." The paper delineated the adverse effects of climate changes on children's rights, posing threats to their health, education, survival, and future. Particularly concerning was the paper's identification of climate-induced factors such as displacement, migration, food insecurity, famine, and exacerbated poverty rates, all contributing to the escalating number of children engaged in labour. To address these detrimental impacts, the paper proposed an action plan grounded in both mitigation and adaptation strategies, with an emphasis on implementing social protection measures. The plan underscored the collective responsibility of various stakeholders, including governments, civil society, the business sector, and even children themselves, as active participants in driving the desired change toward a more sustainable world.
During the meeting, considerable attention was directed towards the plight of children in Gaza, with a focus on the violence and harm inflicted upon Palestinian children in contradiction to international conventions and human rights laws. Attendees expressed their steadfast support for all initiatives aimed at safeguarding Palestinian children and denounced the double standards exhibited by major global powers. The meeting participants acknowledged and appreciated the ongoing efforts by Arab countries to support the Palestinian people. Additionally, they commended partner institutions for their intent to conduct a regional study on the repercussions of the Gaza war, encompassing issues such as burning, destruction, land levelling, and the potential environmental degradation in the region, emphasising the profound impact on children.
