Date: 15-17 November 2006
Location: Amsterdam, the Netherlands

The Amsterdam Foundation for International Research on Working Children (IREWOC) is
organising an international conference on Child Labour's Global Past (1500-2000).
Depending on the definitions used, the estimated number of child labourers ranges
from 180 to 250 million worldwide. Notwithstanding a gradual decline in some parts
of the world, overall progress remains inadequate. The eradication of child labour
seems to be an insurmountable problem.

In trying to solve this problem, a thorough historical analysis of child labour
might be useful. The best way to achieve this is by determining long term
developments, not in isolation, but all over the world. The rise and decline of
child labour are subject to an interaction of (globalising) economic systems, levels
of technology, legislation, cultural norms, discourse and agency. However, the
precise relationship and dynamics between these different factors, and between the
different parts of the world, still remain obscure.

This Conference aims to trace and discuss the historical development of child labour
from a global perspective. Leading questions are: where and why did child labour
emerge as a (demand-driven or supply-driven) phenomenon since 1500? What was its
contribution to the economy and to the household? Which were the mechanisms and the
developments that helped to solve the child labour problem in some parts of the
world and failed to do so, or did so insufficiently, in others?

The Conference wants to bring together historians from all over the world who have
been working on these issues for a particular area. This will provide a framework
for international comparison, in order to reassess the historical development of
child labour over the last 500 years. The focus will be on analytical and
explanatory papers on the significance and function of child labour at the macro-
and micro level. Specific attention will be given to the interface between
colonialism (and globalisation) and the reliance on child labour in the colonial
period and thereafter. How did colonialism, globalisation, and the international
division of labour affect the occurrence and disappearance of child labour in
different parts of the world?
 
Paper proposals (max. 500 words) are expected by 1 November 2005. The selection of
papers to be commissioned shall be over by 1 December 2005, and papers are expected
by 1 July 2006. Depending on the papers' content and quality, IREWOC intends to
submit the proceedings of this conference to a prominent publisher.[Source: CRIN]

For more information, contact:
Angèle Janse
International Institute of Social History, University of Amsterdam
Cruquiusweg 31, 1019 AT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Email: aja@iisg.nl