More than 200 million children in the world today are involved in child labour, doing work that is damaging to his or her mental, physical and emotional development. Children work because their survival and that of their families depend on it. Child labour persists even where it has been declared illegal, and is frequently surrounded by a wall of silence, indifference, and apathy. But that wall is beginning to crumble. While the total elimination of child labour is a long-term goal in many countries, certain forms of child labour must be confronted immediately. Nearly three-quarters of working children are engaged in the worst forms of child labour, including trafficking, armed conflict, slavery, sexual exploitation and hazardous work. The effective abolition of child labour is one of the most urgent challenges of our time.
Child labour
What's new
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ILO/Brazil Annual Review meeting launches new South-South cooperation programme in social security and combating child labour
17 June 2009 - Government of Brazil signs new Programme with the ILO for the promotion of South-South cooperation in Latin America and Caribbean, African and Asian countries in the field of social protection. -
Activities around the world for World Day 2009
12 June 2009 - World Day Against Child Labour aims to promote awareness and action to end child labour. This year we are putting special focus on the plight of girls who often endure additional hardships as victims of child labour. Support for the World Day has been growing each year and 2009 will be no exception. Hundreds of activities will be taking place around the world involving governments, employers, workers, United Nations agencies, civil society organizations and concerned individuals who care about protecting the rights of children. We invite you to join us this World Day and every day as part of the growing worldwide movement to eliminate child labour.
Key resources
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The end of child labour: Within reach
The fight against child labour in the world continues to be a daunting challenge, but this Global Report provides evidence that a breakthrough could be in the making. We are beginning to see an encouraging reduction in child labour – especially its worst forms – in many areas of the world. (Report) - The Worldwide Movement Against Child Labour - Progress and Future Directions
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Investing in Every Child: An Economic Study of the Costs and Benefits
of Eliminating Child Labour - [pdf 1155 KB] - Buy now
Provides an integrated study of the economic costs and benefits of eliminating child labour in developing and transitional countries. (Report) -
Resource guide on child labour
(Resource list)
Latest
- Activities around the world for World Day 2009 (Campaign)
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World Day Against Child Labour 2009 in Geneva -
12 June 2009 - (Video) -
Child labour in Mongolia -
12 June 2009 - (Video) -
Give girls a chance - Tackling child labour, a key to the future
10 June 2009 - (Book) -
Girls in gold-mining: “I don’t want my children to be like me”
10 June 2009 - (Article) -
Migrant working girls, victims of the global crisis
10 June 2009 - (Article) -
Girls in child labour top 100 million -
10 June 2009 - (Video) - Launch of the Children's views of child labour exhibit - [pdf 4886 KB] (Meeting)
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Smart Business Initiatives (SBI) - [pdf 3054 KB]
21 May 2009 - (Project documentation) -
Implementing Indigenous Peoples' Rights: A Practice Guide to ILO Convention No. 169 - [pdf 17250 KB]
10 May 2009 - (Book)