NEWS CENTER – The ILO announced that millions of children around the world are still part of the labor force, and that a significant portion of them are working in hazardous conditions.

 

The International Labour Conference was held in Geneva, Switzerland, under the slogan "Red Card to Child Labour: From Marrakesh to Real Action." At the conference held within the scope of the World Day Against Child Labour, the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) announced that approximately 138 million children are being employed worldwide, 54 million of whom are exposed to hazardous conditions.

 

MILLIONS OF CHILDREN DEPRIVED OF BASIC RIGHTS

 

Speaking at the 114th session of the conference, ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo emphasized that childhood should be a period of learning, development and play, and stated that millions of children are being deprived of basic rights and fair future opportunities.

 

The meeting addressed the implementation of the "Marrakesh Framework" aimed at eliminating child labour. In this context, attention was drawn to the importance of steps such as strengthening national legislation, expanding free education, increasing social protection and ensuring decent working conditions. In the discussions held, poverty, crises and conflicts were identified as the main causes of child labour. Emphasizing that this problem can only be solved through international cooperation and determined policies, the ILO stated that progress made since 2000 shows that child labour can be completely eliminated. It expressed that this problem is not an "inevitable fate" but a global problem that can be solved.