أول يوم دراسي خالي من المبيدات

أول يوم دراسي خالي من المبيدات

Editor

منظمة الأغذية والزراعة ;

Descripción

The heavy use of hazardous chemicals, including pesticides, in agriculture is a growing concern globally, from an agricultural, environmental, economic and social standpoint. In Lebanon, in the refugee crisis context, girls and boys are working in agriculture, and their exposure to pesticides is considered to be a form of hazardous child labour. Children are not only exposed as workers, but also as bystanders and consumers. Children’s exposure to pesticides can harm their physical development an d violates their rights. This means a future loss for rural communities and for agricultural development; these children, when they become adults, will not perform at their full capacity and potential. For the sake of children, as well as rural poverty reduction and food security, we need to take action to transform this situation. There is a need, in the specific context of the refugee crisis in Lebanon, to develop an educational material for the younger children living in very vulnerable condi tions in informal rural settlements and/or trapped in child labour situations in agriculture/food value chains. It will be based on the FAO-ILO visual guide: “Protect children from pesticides!” currently available in Arabic version, that has been developed to raise awareness and build knowledge at local level in Lebanon on the issue of hazardous child labour and exposure to pesticides.