The annual World Day against Child labour on June 12 will this year put the spotlight on the need for urgent national and international steps to accelerate action against child labour.

Coinciding with the opening of the football world cup, the theme for this years World Day is “Go for the goal-end child labour”. The goal of eliminating the worst forms of child labour by 2016 was the major focus of a recent Global Conference against Child Labour held in The Hague.

On June 11 the ILO’s recently launched Global Report on Child Labour will be discussed in the International Labour Conference which is presently meeting in Geneva. Following an introduction by the ILO Director-General a panel of government, employers and workers spokespersons will discuss the report’s findings prior to a general discussion of the report.

World Day Against Child Labour 2010 Events

World Day events will be held in more than 60 countries. Events around the world will involve governments, employers and workers, other UN organizations and non-governmental organizations, high level panels, media events, awareness raising campaigns, cultural performances and other public events. In keeping with the theme for the Day, many events will have a football focus.

For more information on World Day events, reports, background and other materials, see /ipec/Campaignandadvocacy/WDACL/WorldDay2010/lang--en/index.htm

In Geneva, in addition to events in the International Labour Conference, on June 11 between 14.00-14.45 hundreds of local school children will be joined by the Mayor of Geneva, Ms Sandrine Salerno, Mr. Charles Beer, Conseiller d’Etat, ILO officials and visiting Conference delegates to participate in a “Children’s solidarity event” at the Place des Nations. This event is organized by “Le Respect, ça change la Vie” community association, in cooperation with the ILO. Children and local civic leaders will gather around a football goal to “go for the goal against child labour” and show the “Red card against child labour”.

Note for the media

Broadcast quality video material on child labour in different regions of the world is available to broadcasters by contacting the Department of Communication, Radio and TV unit on tv_radio@ilo.org for video materials.

For more information or to interview experts on child labour, please contact the ILO International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour at +4122/799-6164 (English only), +4122/799-8491 (English, French, German), +4122/799-7037 (English, Spanish), or via email: ipec@ilo.org