PURPOSE: The International Labour Organization (ILO) launched the World Day Against Child Labour in 2002 to focus attention on the global extent of Child Laborer and the action and efforts needed to eliminate it. Each year on 12 June, the World Day brings together governments, Enterprise Manager,Employes and Workers organizations, civil society, as well as millions of people from around the world to highlight the plight of Child labourer and what can be done to help them?
FORUM: "Social Justice for All: End Child Labour." World Day Against Child Labour 2023. For this occasion, the ILO’s World of Work Show looks at what else needs to be done to protect the 160 million children worldwide who are in child labour - many in dangerous conditions. We will also explore the critical role of social protection in protecting workers and their families. The ILO, together with its constituents and partners are calling for:
Reinvigorated international action to achieve social justice, particularly under the envisaged Global Coalition for Social Justice, with child labour elimination as one of its important elements;
Universal ratification of ILO Convention No. 138 on Minimum Age, which, together with the universal ratification of ILO Convention No. 182 on Worst Forms of Child Labour achieved in 2020, would provide all children with legal protection against all forms of child labour; and the
Effective implementation of the “Durban Call to Action” to ensure universal access to social protection and to help construct a path towards a world free of child labour, as called under SDG Target 8.7, and in SDG Target 1.3. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #WDACL, #SocialJustice, #WorldChildLabourDay; #12June, #EndChildLabour.
EVENTS: On Monday, June 12th from 13:30 until 14:45 (Europe/Zurich) to observe the World Day Against Child Labour 2023, a high-level side event will be organized by the ILO during the 111th Session of the International Labour Conference. The discussion will focus on the link between social justice and the elimination of child labour.The Panellists will highlight examples of how the ILO constituents and partners have followed up on their commitments and how these are important steps towards increasing social justice.The World Day will be celebrated by many of the ILO tripartite constituents throughout the world. Watch the event!. The International Labour Organization holds its 111th annual Conference in Geneva from 5–16 June 2023. Worker, employer and government delegates from the ILO's 187 Member States address a wide range of issues, including: a just transition towards sustainable and inclusive economies, quality apprenticeships, and labour protection. Learn more by exploring the Photo albums and Videos on demand!
STATEMENTS: Message from the ILO Director-General on On World Day Against Child Labour 2023, June 12th.
PODCASTS : Roughly 168 million children were subjected to child labour. This accounts for nearly 1 in 10 children worldwide. Almost half of them are in hazardous work that directly endangers their health and moral development. Let’s talk about how to move Towards Universal Social Protection and achieving SDG 1.3. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: Calling on the international community to support greater social justice and step up the fight against child labour. Eliminating child labour – greater engagement and collaboration needed; Support the worldwide movement against child labour. Here you will find the communication materials and the materials to promote the campaign.
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
ACTIONS
PARTNERSHIPS
This year’s World Day Against Child Labour will be celebrated with a “Week of Action against Child Labour”, marked from 3-12 June 2022.
Gives voice to informal and marginalized workers.
Influence societal norms and behaviors to eliminate child labor.
Bring visibility to supply chains.
Give children the chance to learn, laugh, & play.
Contribute to Stop child labor in global supply chains through a market-based holistic and authentic system.
Provide quality education to rescued and vulnerable children, and deter children from entering labor.
Throughout this special week, events and activities around the world will provide an opportunity to showcase progress on the elimination of child labour.
The World Day Against Child Labour is organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO); The United Natios Chilren Fund (UNICEF); The Alliance 8.7; The Regional Initiative Latin America and the Caribbean Free of Child Labour, the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC+). With the collaboration of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), the African Movement of Working Children and Youth, the International Cocoa Initiative, the GoodWeave International, the Concerned for Working Children (CWC), the Voice of the Free, the Amsterdam-based foundation for International Research on Working Children (IREWOC), the International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF), the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), Child Labour Unit and the Bureau of International Labor Affairs. With the participation of Civil Society Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations, Policy makers, Researchers and academics.
The World Day Against Child Labour is celebrated to highlight the plight of child labourers. More than half of them are exposed to the worst forms of child labour such as work in hazardous environments, slavery, or other forms of forced labour, illicit activities including drug trafficking and prostitution, as well as involvement in armed conflict.
Guided by the principles enshrined in ILO's Minimum Age Convention No. 138 and the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention No. 182, the ILO Programme on Child Labour (IPEC) works to achieve the effective abolition of child labour.
We are facing arduous times. Progress against child labour has stagnated since 2016, where 160 million children are still in child labour. It’s time to accelerate the pace of progress. It’s time to inspire legislative and practical actions to eliminate child labour for good. It’s time to shift from commitments to action!