The ILO has provided new child labour figures in a recent report. The new data points to some reduction in the global number of child labourers, but also shows that progress is uneven across regions and generally too slow and too little to achieve the 2016 target in time.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) launched the World Day Against Child Labour in 2002 to focus attention on the global extent of child labour and the action 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.

ILO member States have set the goal of eliminating the worst forms of child labour by 2016. In May 2010, representatives of some 80 countries attended a global Conference on Child Labour in The Hague. The conference discussed the progress made so far, and urgent action points needed to achieve this goal.

This year’s World Day also coincides with the opening of the FIFA football World Cup in South Africa. On June 12, many football personalities from around the world will be lending their support to the World Day and to the “Go for the goal” campaign.

Worst forms of child labour include practices such as the use of children in slavery, forced labour, trafficking, debt bondage, serfdom, prostitution, pornography, forced or compulsory recruitment for armed conflict, as well as all forms of work that are likely to harm the safety, health or morals of children, often referred to as hazardous work. While the ILO is concerned with all forms of child labour, its priority is to eradicate such brutal practices.