Establishing Child Labour Prevention and Remediation Systems in Artisanal Mining Communities

The Centre for Child Rights and Business (The Centre) in collaboration with Save the Children have become members of the Fair Cobalt Alliance (FCA) to help establish child labour prevention and remediation systems in artisanal mining (ASM) communities. 

By joining the FCA, The Centre and Save the Children will bring in a combination of technical expertise in relation to implementing child labour prevention and remediation systems as well as play an advisory role that draws on both organisations’ expertise in working with business actors on child labour issues and in setting up holistic child protection systems.  

The Centre, Save the Children and the FCA began their collaboration earlier this year with the development of a much-needed child labour referral system. With such a referral system cases of child labour can be identified in collaboration with local authorities and cooperative members, and referred to accredited case managers, who will tailor an individual remediation plan for each of those children identified. Depending on the children’s needs and situation, this will include measures to reintegrate children into the school system or vocational training, cash transfers and family support (for example to support their parent’s enrolment in a savings group programme). One of the first local partners to be accredited as a case manager will be Maison Kwetu, whose team has decades of experience in taking care of street children and remediating cases of child labour. As part of its membership, Save the Children has already started working with Maison Kwetu to strengthen its capacity and has come onboard as a member of the FCA’s Steering Committee. 

Click here to read the full press release about The Centre’s FCA membership.

Please click here to find out more about the FCA.