Background
In July 2019, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted resolution 73/327 declaring 2021 as the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour. The resolution invites Member States and other stakeholders to observe the International Year through activities aimed at raising awareness of the importance of eliminating child labour and to share best practices in this regard. At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has increased uncertainties for children and their families, it is crucial for the international community to build momentum for advocacy and action to eliminate child labour.

Significant strides have been made in the fight against child labour over the past two decades. However, despite a 38% reduction between 2000 and 2016, over 152 million children were in child labour in 2017, almost half of them in hazardous occupations or conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic further threatens to push millions more into the workforce, as job losses and sharp declines in household income are hitting already vulnerable families, putting pressure on children to contribute. The fight against the COVID-19 pandemic has thus effectively become intertwined with protecting the rights of every child.

2021 will therefore be critical for global efforts against child labour. To this end, Luxembourg, the European Union, the ILO and UNICEF will convene a virtual high-level event to mark the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour on 11 June 2021, ahead of the World Day against Child Labour. The highlevel event will be an opportunity to discuss best practices in the elimination of child labour as well as recommit to ending child labour in all its forms by 2025 in line with Target 8.7 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The high-level event will also be an opportunity for countries to share progress on the Action Pledges they have made in connection with the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour.

Agenda
09:00 – 09:35          Opening segment
Moderator:             Ms Sherine Tadros, Amnesty International
Opening remarks: H.E. Mr Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign and European
                                  Affairs, Luxembourg
                                  H.E. Mr Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs
                                 and Social Rights
Speakers:                H.E. Mr Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th United
                                  Nations General Assembly
                                  H.E. Ms Amina J. Mohammed, United Nations Deputy
                                  Secretary-General
                                  Mr Guy Ryder, Director-General, International Labour
                                  Organization
                                  Ms Henrietta H. Fore, Executive Director, UNICEF
                                  Mr Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate

09:35 – 11:00         High-level roundtable: Best practices in eliminating child
                                labour and achieving SDG 8.7

Over 152 million children are estimated to be in child labour. The socio-economic pressures that the COVID-19 pandemic has placed on the global system threaten to push even more children into child labour. Children may also be trafficked into labour, including by being lured by the false promise of an education or to provide additional income in order to cope with socioeconomic or environmental stress. Refugee, migrant and displaced children are in particularly vulnerable situations. This high-level roundtable offers an opportunity to share and discuss best practices in eliminating child labour and achieving SDG 8.7.

Speakers:              H.E. Mr Adama Kamara, Minister of Employment and Socia
                               Protection, Côte d’Ivoire (TBC)
                               H.E. Mr Albert Nikolla, Deputy Minister of Health and Social
                               Protection, Albania
                               H.E. Mr Javier Eduardo Palacios Gallegos, Minister of
                               Labour and Employment Promotion, Peru (TBC)
                               H.E. Dr Maria Flachsbarth, Deputy Minister and
                               Parliamentary State Secretary
                               to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and
                               Development, Germany
                               H.E. The Honorable Nimal Siripala De Silva, Minister of
                               Labour, Sri Lanka
                               Ms Siobhán Mullally, United Nations Special Rapporteur on
                               trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
                               Ms Molly Namirembe, Youth advocate formerly in child
                               labour

Statements by Member States and civil society in line with a pre-established speakers list.

11:00 – 11:15          Closing segment
Speakers:                H.E. Mr Christian Braun, Permanent Representative of
                                 Luxembourg to the UN
                                 H.E. Mr Olof Skoog, Permanent Representative of the EU
                                 Delegation to the UN

Format
Given the evolving situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, the high-level event will take place virtually on Zoom and will also be broadcast on UN WebTV. Simultaneous interpretation in English, French and
Spanish will be provided.

RSVP
Please register to attend here: https://forms.gle/xFUs5wVHXM7nhH1n9