Regional Consultations in preparation of the V Global Conference on Child Labour (South Africa, 2022)

Since the initial conference in Norway back in 1997, Global Conferences on Child Labour have brought together stakeholders from around the world to discuss, share good practices, advance policies and commit to the elimination of child labour. Follow up conferences in the Netherlands in 2010, Brazil in 2013 and Argentina in 2017 have helped to keep the issue of child labour on the international agenda and to bring about concrete action on the ground, with global figures going down from 268 to 160 million children in child labour.

Thanks to the leadership of South Africa, the next Global Conference is due to be held in 2022. Preparations are already underway and further information about participation will follow shortly.

As part of the preparatory process for a global conference, regional consultations enable the organizers to listen to the priorities and challenges of stakeholders from around the world. These insights will help to shape the conference agenda and to ensure South Africa 2022 will bring about action on the ground.

Calendar

1. Regional consultation for Americas

   16–17 November 2021, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm Lima Time

   The Regional Consultation seeks to inform constituents about the current trends and the regional panorama on child labour, as well as the progress made since the last Global Conference, and to discuss the priorities of the region to contribute to shaping the agenda of the V Global Conference to be held in South Africa in 2022.

2. Regional consultation for Africa

   18–19 November 2021, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Central African Time

   The African regional consultation will bring together representatives from Governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, along with representatives of regional and sub-regional institutions, civil society and the UN.

3. Regional consultation for Europe and Central Asia

   13-14 December 2021, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm Geneva Time

   The Regional Consultation will bring together representatives of governments, employers, workers, CSOs, academia, UN agencies, the EU, and other stakeholders from within the regions of Europe and Central Asia.

4. Regional consultation for Asia and the Pacific

   13-14 December 2021, 11:00 am – 1:30 pm Bangkok Time

   The Regional Consultation will bring together representatives of governments, employers, workers, CSOs, academia, UN agencies and other stakeholders from all countries in the Asia-Pacific region as well as a representative from the government of South Africa.

5. Regional consultation for Arab States

   15-16 December 2021, 10:30 am – 1:00 pm Beirut Time

   The Regional Consultation will bring together representatives of governments, employers, workers, CSOs, academia, UN agencies and other stakeholders from within the Arab States region.