U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao and Queen Rania
Al-Abdullah of Jordan Meet to Discuss Child Labor Issues

Secretary Recognizes Queen Rania’s Leadership in Combating Child Labor

GENEVA, Switzerland—Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao met with Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan and praised her for her leadership in the campaign to end abusive child labor. The two met in Geneva, Switzerland, where the Secretary was participating in the 91st session of the International Labor Conference.

“Queen Rania is a leading voice for the world’s children, and her efforts to raise the awareness of child labor issues should be commended” said Chao. “Children are our future, and we must do everything we can to protect them from abusive and hazardous child labor. Our best weapon to fight child labor is education and we must ensure that educational opportunities are available to combat the worst forms of child labor.”

In 2002, the Department of Labor funded a $1 million project in Jordan, through the International Labor Organization, to develop a national strategy to combat child labor, withdraw approximately 3,000 children engaged in the worst forms of child labor and provide them with educational opportunities.

Under the leadership of Secretary Chao, the Department of Labor convened an international conference on child soldiers in May 2003. The conference brought together more than 500 agencies and organizations dedicated to ending the heinous practice of child soldiers. During the conference, Secretary Chao announced a new $13 million global initiative to help former child soldiers through community-based education, rehabilitation and reintegration projects. This included a $7 million initiative through the ILO-IPEC program, a $3 million project in Uganda, and a $3 million project in Afghanistan.

Queen Rania has been a tireless advocate for the children of Jordan and children around the world. She established the Child Safety Program in 1998 to protect children in Jordan at risk of abuse. She is also a member of UNICEF’s Global Leadership Initiative, a global movement of world leaders designed to improve the welfare of children.

The Government of Jordan has been a member of ILO’s International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (IPEC) since 2000 and is a major collaborator on this program. Since 1995, the U.S. Congress has appropriated over $200 million to support the ILO’s International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor.

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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.