In 1992 Turkey was one of the initial six countries to undertake direct action to combat child labour through IPEC programs and assistance. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Turkey and the ILO was signed in 1992 and was extended till September 2006. There was a total number of 101 action programmes implemented from 1992 . IPEC projects carried out over the last 12 years have reached approximately 50,000 children. Sixty percent of these children have been withdrawn from work and placed in schools. The remaining 40 percent have benefited from improved working conditions and health, nutrition and vocational training services. Furthermore, approximately 25,000 families have received counselling services and assistance. The strategies developed and objectives of the Programme are coherent with national policies and objectives and reinforce and strengthen existing national structures.

In 1992-93 the major strategies were to develop a greater understanding of the problem, particularly in relation to its causes, increase the awareness of policy makers of the problem; undertake small scale easily replaceable direct action programmes focused on priority areas of concern and replicating and expanding these activities and mainstreaming child labour issues into socio-economic policies, programmes and budgets of the country. The tripartite basis of the approach, cooperation and collaboration between responsible government agencies, employers and trade unions, has allowed for the development of several successful pilot implementations and the initiation of inclusion of the wide spectrum of civil society (particularly NGOs and Universities) into combating the phenomenon.

The 1994-95 IPEC Programmes were developed on the accumulated experience, increased awareness and the findings of the action programmes of 1992-93.

During 1996-97 biennium, the strategies to combat child labour were based on the data obtained from the State Institute of Statistics Child labour Survey and from the research Ministry of Labour and Social Security Labour Inspectors carried out in identifying the most risk sectors in 7 regions. The Programmes focused on consolidating and building on the achievements of the previous years, replicating and expanding these activities and integrating a wider socio-economic and educational components into the programmes. Strategies also included mobilizing new partners covering a broader spectrum of influences on the problem of child labour, and cooperation with other UN agencies, particularly, UNICEF.

During the process of programme development for the 1998-99 biennium addressing the multi- factorial nature of the child labour problem was given primary importance. The programmes targeted working children's physical safety, educational, psycho-social, cognitive and cultural needs and significant groups within these areas who are in a position of influence (parents, employers, teachers, labour inspectors, police, local authorities, governmental policy makers and NGOs). Collaboration with other UN agencies and new partners particularly Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Universities will be further developed.

During 2000-01 biennium the challenge was to address the children working in most hazardous conditions, the informal sector, and stimulating a greater awareness and community participation in elimination of child labour.

For 2002-03, drawing the groundswell of support for ILO Conventions 138 and 182, future strategy continued to focus on completing the transformation of IPEC from a technical cooperation programme to one that deals with all aspects of child labour. Nevertheless IPEC's goals will continue to be the progressive elimination of child labour, with priority given to the urgent elimination of its worst forms. Building on the experience of more than ten years of direct action, the Programme will continue to move beyond the broad mobilization of support and experimental action at country level to interventions that lead to a tangible reduction of child labour.

IPEC Turkey is now in the process to increase assistance to constituents in the effective implementation of Convention No: 182 through the development of national time bound programme that formulate concrete policies and programmes to eradicate the worst forms of child labour within a determined period of time. The strategy paper was prepared by the Government in collaboration with all the related parties. The Time Bound Policy and Programme Framework delineates the roles of all participating organizations and will act as a guide in the successful implementation of co-operative efforts across sectors. Within this framework of principles and commitment, the Government has adopted as its basic target the elimination of the worst forms of child labour (WFCL) within a period of 10 years. In response to commitments made by the Turkish Government, as part of a USDOL-funded programme, IPEC agreed to provide support to the implementation of the national TBPPF through a Time-Bound Programme Support Project. The Action Programmes for the selected sectors are under preparation and will be ready for implementation as of October 2004. The implementation of the time bound programme will demonstrate the impact that a significant reduction of worst forms can have on sustainable development. This experience can help generate wider financial and political support so that child labour elimination is mainstreamed into regular government programmes and budgets.