Combat Child Labour Day - June 12, 2014

The International Labour Organization calls on governments to step up their efforts to extend social protection in order to help keep children out of child labour.

Read the ILO's recently released World Social Protection Report 2014/15.

The report builds on evidence presented in the 2013 ILO World Report on Child Labour: Economic vulnerability, social protection and the fight against child labour which suggested that cash and in-kind child and family benefits, especially when combined with access to education and health services, can be decidedly effective in addressing child labour.

Facts and figures

• 168 million children worldwide are in child labour; 85 million of them are in hazardous work.
• Since 2000, child labour has declined by one third and progress is accelerating. Between 2008 and 2012, the global number fell from 215 to 168 million.
• The number of children in hazardous work fell from 115 to 85 million.

According to the latest International Labour Organization (ILO) to accelerate the decline in child labour the global community must address its root causes more effectively.

“There is no secret as to what needs to be done,” said ILO Director-General Guy Ryder. “Social protection, along with universal compulsory, formal, quality education at least up to the minimum age for work, decent work for adults and youth of working age, effective law and strong social dialogue together provide the right response to child labour.”

Activities to mark the day include:
1. Pope Francis referred to the World Day Against Child Labour during his general audience at The Vatican, saying that “I truly hope that the international community will extend children's access to social protection to eradicate this curse. ...“We all need to renew our commitment, especially families, to protect the dignity of every boy and girl and to offer them the opportunity to grow in a healthy environment. A peaceful childhood allows children to look at life and the future with confidence," added Pope Francis, who also raised the Red Card to Child Labour during the audience.

2. World Day activities in Geneva and in more than 45 countries will involve the ILO’s tripartite constituents, children and partners in the worldwide movement against child labour. They will include high level meetings, public rallies, and media, sports and cultural events, including numerous concerts dedicated to the Music against Child Labour Initiative.

3. In addition to the theme of Social Protection, many events will be centred on the ILO’s Red Card to Child Labour campaign. This phase of the campaign will run from the opening on 12 June of the football World Cup to the 2016 Olympics, starting with a social media “Thunderclap” and events in Brazil and New York.