World Day against Child Labour is celebrated annually on June 12. Today, close to 250 million children are working in the world. More than 150 million of these children are working in harsh conditions. Additionally, each year more than 1 million of these children will be victims of human trafficking.
History of World Day Against Child Labour:
On June 12 2002, the International Labour Organisation launched the World Day Against Child Labour. Since then, every year, the day is marked to highlight the plight of child labourers worldwide and also to take the required measures to eliminate it.
After years of concerted effort and campaigning the world by 2012 saw great progress in reducing the number of child labourers from 245 million to 168 million. While this progress slowed somewhat by 2016, lessening the number of child labourers to 152 million, it became clear the largest number of child labourers remain in the agricultural sector.
World Day Against Child Labour 2020: Child labor during COVID-19 crisis
Significance of World Day Against Child Labour:
To bring attention to the problem of child labour and to find ways to eradicate it or fight against it, the day is celebrated every year on June 12. Millions of children are forced and pushed to work in adverse situations in factories, some are trafficked and some are directed towards prostitution. The day helps to spread awareness among the common people explaining to them why it is necessary to protect children and encourage them for education rather than working.
Theme of World Day Against Child Labour 2020:
This year the day will focus on the ‘Impact of crisis on child labour’. As per the International Labour Organisation(ILO), The COVID-19 health pandemic and the resulting economic and labour market shock are having a huge impact on people’s lives and livelihoods. Unfortunately, children are often the first to suffer. The crisis can push millions of vulnerable children into child labour.
Celebrations of World Day Against Child Labour 2020:
This year, the ILO will conduct a virtual campaign organized jointly with the Global March Against Child Labour and the International Partnership for Cooperation on Child Labour in Agriculture (IPCCLA). Generally, on this day, various governments, employers and workers organizations, civil society, as well as millions of people from around the world come together and highlight the plight of child labourers and what can be done to help them.
