12 June is observed as World Day Against Child Labour globally. The theme of 2015 is – No to Child Labour – Yes to Quality Education
In 2002, International Labour Organization (ILO) launched the World Child Labour Day to raise awareness and to focus the actions and efforts needed to eliminate it.
Each year on 12 June, the World Day brings together governments, employers and workers organizations, civil society, as well as millions of people from around the world to highlight the plight of child labourers and what can be done to help them.
Hundreds of millions of children around the world are involved in work that deprives them from receiving proper education, health, leisure and basic freedoms, in this way violating their rights.
Of these children, more than half are exposed to the worst forms of child labour. These worst forms of child labour include work in hazardous environments, slavery, or other forms of forced labour, illicit activities such as drug trafficking and prostitution, as well as involvement in armed conflict.
This day provides an opportunity to gain further support of individual governments and local authorities, as well as that of the ILO social partners, civil society and others, in the campaign to tackle child labour.
World Day 2015 calls for:
- Free, compulsory and quality education for all children at least to the minimum age for admission to employment and action to reach those presently in child labour;
- New efforts to ensure that national policies on child labour and education are consistent and effective;
- Policies that ensure access to quality education and investment in the teaching profession.
