During the 112th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), which took place from June 3 to 14, 2024, the International Labour Organization (ILO) marked World Day Against Child Labour on June 12. This year's observance was particularly significant as it celebrated the 25th anniversary of the adoption of ILO Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, the first ILO convention to achieve universal ratification in 2020.

The high-level side event focused on assessing the progress made and the challenges faced in the fight against child labour, aiming to enhance the implementation of ILO conventions No. 182 and No. 138 on the Minimum Age for Employment.

Notable speakers included Gilbert F. Houngbo and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, who highlighted the need for accelerated global efforts to eradicate child labour by 2025, as per Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 8.7​.

“Today, we celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the ILO Convention 182 on the worst form of child labour the only ILO Convention to be ratified. Yet, 160 million children are still in child labour. That one in ten children. Of them 79 million are still in hazardous work”, the ILO Director-General said.

The event also featured discussions on strategic partnerships and initiatives such as the "Latin America and the Caribbean Free of Child Labour" initiative, celebrating its 10th anniversary. Representatives from various countries and organizations shared insights on effective strategies to combat child labour and the importance of international cooperation in these efforts​​.

Despite significant strides in reducing child labour, recent years have witnessed a reversal in global trends. Now more than ever, it is crucial to unite and intensify efforts to eradicate child labour in all its forms.m