World Day Against Child Labour 2026
The 2026 World Day Against Child Labour, celebrated every June 12, comes at a crucial moment in the global effort to end child exploitation. The Marrakech Global Framework for Action against Child Labour addresses the root causes of child labour and protects every child’s rights.
“Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults”, the theme of this year’s World Day Against Child Labour, placed emphasis on policies that prevent child labour and support the withdrawal and rehabilitation of affected children through quality education, universal social protection, decent work and adequate livelihoods for adults, stronger laws and enforcement, improved data and monitoring systems, and responsible practices in agriculture and global supply chains. These actions are urgently needed, as the International Labour Organization (ILO) reports that 138 million children remain in child labour worldwide, including nearly 54 million engaged in hazardous work, underscoring the critical need for stronger and more coordinated efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 8, particularly Target 8.7, which calls for the elimination of child labour in all its forms and the protection of children from economic exploitation.
Despite, efforts put in place to abolish child labour and exploitation, it remains a huge concern due to structural inequalities including poverty, limited access to quality education, weak labour enforcement, and informal economies. According to both the ILO and the UNICEF, most of the child labour is concentrated in agriculture, which accounts for more than half of all cases globally, followed by services and industry.
Furthermore, the COVID 19 pandemic contributed to the increase in child labour for it pushed vulnerable households into deeper poverty. This explains the stagnation and the reversal observed around 2020, however with increasing economic shocks such as; the Iran- USA war and the increase of global economic instability, children aged 5-17 are unfortunately exposed to a high risk of being exploited.
The Salesian Sisters have maintained sustained engagement across the 97 countries in which the Institute operates, contributing meaningfully to global efforts aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal 8. According to IIMA Quadrennial Report to ECOSOC, from 2020 to 2023, approximately 8% of its total projects (3,596 initiatives) have directly supported this goal, reaching an estimated 201,322 beneficiaries, which highlights the scale and impact of its work in addressing labour vulnerability and promoting social protection. These initiatives closely align with the 2026 ILO campaign theme, “Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults,” In this regard, the Institute’s efforts also reflect the broader objectives of SDG Target 8.7, particularly through education, community outreach, and advocacy aimed at preventing child labour and strengthening protective systems, thereby demonstrating how Civil Society Organizations can meaningfully complement international frameworks in translating global commitments into local, practical action.
Pope Leo XIV, in his address to the Organizing Committee of the Initiative “From Crisis to Care: Catholic Action for Children”, on 5 February 2026, urged them to “focus on the transversal needs of children and to find ways to work together in greater harmony so that children receive care that is well balanced, taking into consideration their physical, psychological and spiritual welfare.”
Data Source: International Labour Organization and UNICEF