Music has long been part of advocacy efforts against child labour, with both children and adults reaching out to communities through concerts and songs, using music as part of street theatre and drama performances, as well as having solidarity concerts given by youth orchestras in support of the children around the world who are affected by this scourge.
Music is an important component of culture. The Music against Child Labour Initiative  reinforced the focus on music as a vehicle for advocacy. The Music Initiative, launched by Maestro Claudio Abbado in 2013 together with the ILO and key music partners, focuses on mobilizing the world of music in the global movement against child labour and on the potential of music education to empower all children.The Music Initiative also aims to promote access to music education. Experience around the world shows that access to music and arts education is part of a quality education, making schools more attractive to children and helping to ensure they continue their education and are protected from child labour. Quality education is not only about imparting skills but also about developing the whole personality, which includes cognitive and emotional development. 

This new module was developed to support that objective and to strengthen music education, to develop young people’s competence and self-esteem and to empower them to raise their voices against child labour. Teachers and teachers’ trade unions, in particular, have a key role in advocating for the right of all children to education, with a particular focus on disadvantaged youth, including those in child labour. In several countries, the need to eradicate child labour has been incorporated as a topic in education curricula. SCREAM is an important vehicle to promote teaching and learning and should be incorporated into teacher training programmes. Music and arts education should be accessible for every child.

 

Download Music Module.