The Member Nations of the World Assembly:
Applauding the efforts of the World Assembly to protect children from harm;
Reaffirming that it is largely inappropriate for children to spend their time working, and that a child's primary responsibility should be to acquire an education;
Recognizing nonetheless that there are substantial flaws in GAR #4, the current law on "Restriction on Child Labor", that render it problematic and greatly in need of an update;
Noting that GAR #4 defines a minor as any person "below the legal age of majority;"
Concerned that this definition draws too hard a line, effectively grouping babies and toddlers with older teens and young adults, and ultimately deprives member nations of much needed authority to recognize the varying levels of maturity, skill, and responsibility that children gain with age, and to tailor their labor laws accordingly;
Noting that GAR #4 bans the employment of minors in jobs that involve "dangerous machinery, dangerous equipment or dangerous tools", regardless of whether the minor has reached a level of maturity where they could be trusted to operate those tools effectively, or whether the minor has adequate supervision, or whether the minor is learning a family business such as farming;
Noting that GAR #4 prohibits minors from "handling heavy loads", regardless of whether the minor is old enough and physically fit enough to handle those loads safely and responsibly;
Convinced that, in general, GAR #4 simply does not allow the level of nuisance and flexibility necessary to appropriately and responsibly regulate the employment of minors, and that this area of law is badly in need of legislation that would allow nations to adopt more reasonable labor standards;
Aware that under the current international legal rules, old resolutions covering a subject matter must be repealed before new resolutions improving on that subject matter may be adopted;
Now, therefore, GAR #4 is hereby REPEALED.
