Letter sent by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in recognition for the actions carried out by Abecitrus to eradicate child labor in the citrus sector.

Dear Mr. Garcia,

The International Labor Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have been working together to stimulate and support the participation of the private sector in programmes of prevention and eradication of child labour, especially its most intolerable forms.

In this context, ILO and UNICEF recognize the actions carried out by your Association to combat child labour in the citric fruit industry in São Paulo and Minas Gerais, as a result of commitments made by Abecitrus through the Term of Agreement signed in São Paulo in May 1996, the Araraquara Pact in June 1996, and the Letter of Bebedouro in March 1997.

ILO and UNICEF consider that such efforts have achieved excellent results, including the mobilization and awareness raising of society with support from the Municipal Councils.

Similarly to other programmes presently being carried out in Brazil, the support of your Association in the establishment of the Regional Commission, created in May 1997, has permitted the coordination of efforts at all levels as well as the elaboration of programmes jointly with local counterparts, taking the local needs and specificities into consideration.

Finally, we would like to praise the work developed by Abecitrus and its associates through the support given to projects of assistance to children who have been removed from work.

With best regards,
     Sincerely,