World Day Against Child Labour 2021: Know History And Significance

The number of children in child labour has risen to 160 million worldwide – an increase of 8.4 million children in the last four years.

Image Source: PTI

New Delhi: Children around the world who are either too young to work or are involved in hazardous activities that may compromise their physical, mental, social or educational development are classified as child labourers. This year's World Day Against Child Labour marks a "Week of Action" that began on June 10th. 

Child labour reinforces intergenerational poverty, threatens national economies and undercuts rights guaranteed by the Convention on the Rights of the Child," said the ILO (International Labour Organization). 

According to UN, Africa ranks highest among regions both in the percentage of children in child labour — one-fifth — and the absolute number of children in child labour — 72 million. Asia and the Pacific ranks second highest in both these measures — 7% of all children and 62 million in absolute terms are in child labour in this region.

The Africa and the Asia and the Pacific regions together account for almost nine out of every ten children in child labour worldwide. The remaining child labour population is divided among the Americas (11 million), Europe and Central Asia (6 million), and the Arab States (1 million). In terms of incidence, 5% of children are in child labour in the Americas, 4% in Europe and Central Asia, and 3% in the Arab States.

This year’s World Day Against Child Labour will be celebrated with a “Week of Action”, marked from 10-17 June 2021. Throughout this special week, events and activities around the world will provide an opportunity to discuss the new ILO-UNICEF global estimates and trends on child labour and showcase progress on the implementation of International Year “2021 Action Pledges”. Ending child labour requires immediate action, accelerated motivation, and collaborative partnerships at all levels states UN.