Voices from Mali at the 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour

At the 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour, representatives from Mali shared their reflections, experiences, and commitments in the global fight against child labour.

Through these short testimonies, members of the Malian tripartite delegation, representing workers, employers, and government, highlight key messages emerging from the conference and reaffirm their engagement to end child labour.

Trade union perspective: Peace, justice, and children’s rights

Maiga Aminata, representing the Confédération Syndicale des Travailleurs du Mali, emphasized the importance of peace and social justice as essential foundations to end child labour.

She highlighted that without political stability and harmony between peoples, challenges such as migration and the suffering of children cannot be resolved.

Reflecting on the conference discussions around human dignity, religion, and children’s rights, she expressed hope that this sixth conference would serve as an additional step toward eradicating child labour.

“No to child labour.” Maiga Aminata

Trade union action: Education and concrete results

Soumela H. Maïga, from the Union Nationale du Travail du Mali (UNTM), underlined the long-standing collaboration between trade unions, the International Labour Organization, and national authorities in addressing child labour.

He noted that participation in the conference provided an opportunity to share Mali’s experience and learn from others.

“I say STOP to child labour. Together we will win this fight.” Soumela Maïga

Employers’ perspective: Responsibility in supply chains

Abdoulaye Traoré, from the Conseil national du patronat du Mali, highlighted several key priorities discussed during the conference:

• Expanding social protection
• Strengthening social dialogue
• Mobilizing financing
• Leveraging technology

He stressed the importance for businesses to ensure that supply chains are free of child labour, noting that it directly affects brand reputation and market access.

“Red card to Child Labour.” Abdoulaye Traoré

Government perspective: Toward 2030 and a renewed approach

Salif Bagayoko, Technical Adviser at the Ministry of Labour, Public Service and Social Dialogue of Mali, led the tripartite delegation at the conference.

He recalled that the global target to eliminate child labour by 2025 had not been achieved, leading to renewed commitments toward 2030.

Key takeaways included:

• A shift toward more holistic approaches
• Stronger data and information sharing
• Greater involvement of social partners and civil society
• Integration of child labour elimination into national policies and financing frameworks

He emphasized that protecting children is a collective responsibility and a matter of social justice.

“Children are our future and it is our responsibility to protect them” Salif Bagayoko

A shared commitment

Across all voices, a common message emerged: ending child labour requires coordinated action, strong partnerships, and sustained commitment from all actors.

From policy to practice, and from local action to global dialogue, the Malian delegation reaffirmed its determination to contribute to this collective effort.

Together, the message is clear: No to child labour.