Accelerating action against child labour Global Report under the follow-up to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights to Work

The Report builds on the foundations of the first and second Global Reports on the effective abolition of child labour under the follow-up to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. The first Report, A future without child labour (2002), was comprehensive in scope and highlighted the key issues to be addressed if progress was to be made in the global effort against child labour. The report introduced a three-pillar strategic approach: reinforcing the work of IPEC; strengthening the worldwide movement; and integrating child labour concerns across the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda. The second Global Report, The end of child labour: Within reach (2006), was the first report to document global child labour trends. These positive global trends encouraged the Organization to set the target of eliminating all the worst forms of child labour by 2016; as an interim step, all member States would design and put in place appropriate time-bound measures by the end of 2008.

Part I presents a dynamic global picture, updating global trends and setting out progress in the ratification of ILO standards. It highlights the progress being made in reducing child labour and in the ratification and application of ILO instruments.

Part II reviews responses to the 2006 Global Action Plan by the ILO and its partners under the three strategic pillars. There have been considerable achievements in each of the three areas, particularly as regards the worldwide movement. This is encouraging given that strengthening the worldwide movement was viewed four years ago as perhaps the major challenge.

Drawing on that review, Part III examines key challenges and gaps that remain and how these might be translated into opportunities to make further progress. Such an analysis necessarily requires revisiting some themes examined earlier in the report, but from a fresh angle, whilst new themes are introduced.

Finally, Part IV sets out future scenarios and strategic elements before putting forward a series of key steps and specific action for the ILO that can accelerate progress towards meeting the challenge of the 2016 target.