[JURIST] The International Labour Organization (ILO) [official website] Thursday called for a ban on child labor in mines and quarries [press release] as the focus for the World Day Against Child Labour [press release] on June 12. The agency has urged labor unions, employers and governments to provide financial aid to small, family run mines in order to relieve their dependence on cheap child labor. The ILO estimates that nearly one million children ranging from ages 5-17 working in mines and quarries worldwide are exposed to risks of chronic diseases and potential fatalities. Brazil, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Ghana, Pakistan, and nine other countries have already signed an agreement to work toward eliminating child labor within the next 5-10 years. The child mining labor initiative is being launched at the next session of the group's International Labour Conference [agenda, PDF] that begins in Geneva on Friday. AP has more.