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Report on some conclusions and proposals from the tour in CA

 

My participation in the Tour in Central America, (Honduras and Nicaragua), was very useful for me, but at the same time I hope it will have an impact in the education trade unions activities regarding child labour prevention and elimination in both countries, Honduras and Nicaragua.

  1. Meetings and activities:

Meetings and activities in Honduras:

  1. We started with a meeting with participation of the most important representatives of FOPRIDE (Federation of Organisations for Development of Honduras), composed of some 72 institutions dealing with different issues (economic, social, juridical and so on).
  2. An important meeting was organised with representatives from 5 education trade unions, COLPROSUMAH, (Professional Teachers Union of Honduras(Elementary schools), PRICPMAH, (First Professional Union of Teachers of Honduras, (Elementary schools), COPRUMH, (Professional Union “Teachers Unity” of Honduras (Secondary education), COPEMH, (Union of High School Teachers of Honduras (Secondary education) and COLPEDAGOGOS, (Union of Pedagogy Professionals, (Higher education).
  3. Important meetings were organised with the Minister of Labour and the Vice Minister of Education of Honduras.
  4. We introduced our experience in the workshop organised with different stakeholders and we also participated in stickers campaign organised by Compartir in Honduras.

Meetings and activities in Nicaragua:

  1. We started with the meeting with representatives from CENIDH, (The Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights),
  2. An important meeting was organised with the representatives from the main education trade union in Nicaragua, ANDEN,
  3. Some meetings and other activities, participation in a workshop and two family visits included, were organised in the Somoto Department (Region).
  4. An important meeting was organised with the ILO-IPEC National Manager, where an important discussion was held, based in our experience, regarding collaboration with education trade unions.
  1. Some Conclusions and recommendations already presented:
  1. In Honduras education trade unions didn’t report any activity regarding child labour elimination, meanwhile in Nicaragua they reported some training seminars, organised in collaboration with ILO-IPEC, where were trained a considerable number of teachers and they reported some children registered in the schools as the result of their work, but they didn’t report any concrete activities regarding child labour elimination..

Under these conditions, we recommended that representatives from all the education trade unions participating in the meetings ask for special meetings with the main leaders and leading bodies of their trade unions, inform them about the conclusions and duties agreed in these meetings and prepare a working plan regarding the inclusion of child labour issue in their agenda.
We also insisted on starting at least with some small activities being focused in any special area, working with 2-3 pilot schools, mobilising some 25-30 teachers, dealing with some 130-150 pupils at risk to drop out of the schools or children who have already dropped out and work.

  1. Education trade unions in Honduras are not represented in the National Committee on Elimination of Child Labour, functioning in the framework of the Ministry of Labour.

It was agreed with the Minister of Labour and the representatives of trade unions to start  the procedures, through direct discussions, in order to include education trade union representatives in this Committee.

  1. In Honduras FOPRIDEH had different commissions, but they had no any commission regarding childhood and child labour elimination. At the same time education trade unions were not part of this Federation.

We agreed with both parts that education trade unions to be included in this coalition and a special commission to be established as soon as possible in this framework.

  1. In Nicaragua ILO-IPEC can be considered active in collaboration with education trade unions, considering them as the most important partner, meanwhile in Honduras it was no any activity with ILO-IPEC and they even didn’t know that in Tegucigalpa exists such an office. In doubt about that were also Compartir representatives, while the ILO-IPEC representative in Nicaragua explained us that it is a representative in Tegucigalpa as in Managua.
  1. Two proposals:
  1. Under the above mentioned situation, I, (also in consultation with Venkat), propose to see the possibility of supporting education trade unions in both countries through a small project, being focused in any special area, working with 2-3 pilot schools, mobilising some 25-30 teachers, dealing with some 130-150 pupils at risk to drop out of the schools or children who have already dropped out and work.

Being that there is a possibility to be proposed a special engagement also from the NGO-s in both countries aiming a child labour free zone, it is possible that education trade unions join them in the same area and work together to achieve the same goal.

  1. I also propose to see the possibility of supporting the organisation of a special workshop in each country, (Honduras and Nicaragua), in collaboration with ILO-IPEC, Ministries of Education and Labour, Compartir (in Honduras) and CIDENIC (in Nicaragua), with participation of 20-25 high level leaders of education trade unions, in national level, in order to discuss the situation and to elaborate a working plan on putting child labour in education trade unions agenda.
  1. Transferring experience in Albania

Based on discussions with Mario, Trudy, Marten, Leonie in Holland, knowing by near the experience of MV Foundation, through Venkat’s explanations, (we were together in all the meetings and activities), also reflecting from the discussions with Honduran and Nicaraguan colleagues, I (also after consultations with Venkat), propose to see the possibility, of course not in the near future, but in perspective, to organise the following activities:

  1. An exchange of experience between Albanian and Moroccan education trade unions which are working at the same line and can profit a lot by each-other’s experience. We can use already planned activities, (Conferences, Round Tables), or we can plan special activities in Morocco or in Albania.
  2. To see the possibility of supporting education trade unions, in collaboration with other branch trade unions, ILO-IPEC and other NGO-s, to work concretely in a special area aiming a child labour free zone, which can be a valuable experience not only for Albania, but also for the region and wider.
  3. To see the possibility of organising a big rally (meeting) with participation of some 800-1000 teachers out of some 1 500 of them being engaged directly in child labour prevention and elimination in the framework of education trade unions work in Albania. This kind of meeting can be a special propaganda not only for those teachers participating in the meeting, but also for all Albanian teachers and Albanian society.

Of course, these are some ideas not consulted with our presidents and our leading bodies yet, but I hope that they can be elaborated and planned for the future.

  1. Appreciations:

Considering successful my tour in CA, I would like to forward my appreciations to all of them who made possible my participation and my work in Honduras and Nicaragua, especially to:
-Mario, (FNV), for the idea, the platform and the excellent coordination of actions related to this tour,
- Margo and Anna, (HIVOS, NL) who made a perfect work regarding all the logistics, (visas, travel arrangements, programs and so on),
- Donatella, (EI, Brussels), who made possible the contacts and all the arrangements with education trade unions in Honduras and Nicaragua,
- Venkat, (MV Foundation), who was really active not only when it was about NGO-s, but also education trade unions, being so clear and understandable by the participants and especially for his flexibility during our mission in Somoto, when visiting families.
- Rosa Maria and Leopoldo (Compartir, Honduras), Kelly Miranda and Armando (CIDENIC), Gonzales (CENIDH), Elisa, Nicaragua), and all those who worked with us in Honduras and Nicaragua.
- Both presidents of Albanian education trade unions, Dobrushi and Kruja, who trusted in my attempts to transfer some our experience to our colleagues in CA.
 
Tirana, November 25, 2007

Stavri Liko