World Day Against Child Labour 2024: Date, Theme, History, Significance and Quotes

World Day Against Child Labour is observed on June 12. Its goal is to catalyze the expanding global movement against child labour. The United Nations thinks that if people and governments focus on the core cause and recognise the interconnectedness between social justice and child work, child labour may be eradicated.

Children ought to grow up in circumstances that support their health and development. They should not be forced to perform manual labour to make a living because they are vulnerable to physical and emotional abuse. Unfortunately, child labour and abuse are prevalent in the majority of poor nations.

World Day Against Child Labour 2024: Theme

The theme for World Day Against Child Labour 2024 is – Let’s act on our commitments: End Child Labour!

This year’s World Day will mark the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour. It also provides an opportunity to urge all stakeholders to improve their implementation of the two main Conventions on Child Labour, Convention No. 182 and Convention No. 138 on the Minimum Age for Admission to Employment or Work, respectively.

Although great progress has been made in reducing child labour throughout time, recent years have seen global trends reverse, emphasising the critical need to join efforts in speeding initiatives to eradicate child labour in all forms.

World Day Against Child Labour 2024: History & Significance

On June 12, 2002, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) marked the first World Day Against Child Labour at its headquarters in Geneva, which had been founded the day before.

World Day Against Child Labour was established to promote and amplify the global call to stop child labour. Since 1987, the Indian central government has implemented a National Policy on Child Employment, which focuses on the rehabilitation of children and adolescents who have been exposed to employment. It also addresses the underlying causes of poverty by assisting victims’ families in improving their economic chances.

World Day Against Child Labour 2024: Quotes

1. “Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man.” – Rabindranath Tagore.
2. “Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow.” – A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
3. “Safety and security don’t just happen; they are the result of collective consensus and public investment.” – Nelson Mandela.
4. “Some girls cannot go to school because of the child labour and child trafficking.” – Malala Yousafzai.
5. “You can’t regulate child labour. You can’t regulate slavery. Some things are just wrong.” – Michael Moore.