Cecília Jorge
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - For the first time the International Labor Organization (ILO) registered a decline in child labor throughout the world. This appears in the organization's report, "The End of Child Labor: A Goal Within Our Reach," released today in the Planalto Palace in Brasília. Between 2000 and 2004, there was an 11% reduction in the number of working children and adolescents. The decrease was from 246 million to 218 million.

The most significant decrease (33%) was among children between the ages of 5 and 14. In the 5-17 age bracket, the number of children involved in what are considered dangerous activities fell 26%, from 179 million to 126 million between 2000 and 2004, according to the ILO report.

The document states that Latin America and the Caribbean evidenced the best results. Only 5% of the children in the 5-14 age group work for a living. This corresponds to a 2/3 decrease over the 4-year period.

The report also points out that it is feasible to eliminate the worst forms of child labor in the next ten years if the current pace is maintained and awareness of the importance of combatting child labor persists. The study chalks this result up to political will, awareness, and concrete steps, especially in the areas of fighting poverty and stimulating education.

Translation: David Silberstein