SESRIC Participated in the 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour

Date: 11-13 February 2026
Venue: Marrakesh - Morocco

SESRIC participated in the 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour, held from 11 to 13 February 2026 in Marrakesh, Kingdom of Morocco. Under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Conference was hosted by the Kingdom of Morocco in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO).

It brought together a wide range of participants, including government representatives, employers’ and workers’ organizations, civil society institutions, international organizations, private sector actors, academia, and youth, all united by the shared goal of intensifying global efforts toward ending child labour.

Building on the Durban Call to Action adopted at previous gatherings, the Conference reaffirmed commitments to mobilizing resources, strengthening protection for vulnerable children, and advancing lasting solutions rooted in education, social protection, rural development, and decent work.

Discussions took place against a backdrop of continuing global challenges. According to the ILO and UNICEF’s 2024 global estimates, released in June 2025, nearly 138 million children worldwide—approximately one in ten children aged 5 to 17—remain engaged in child labour. Among them, 54 million are involved in hazardous work that endangers their health, safety, or development. Africa remains disproportionately affected, with 87 million children involved—61% in agriculture. Although the latest figures indicate a reversal of earlier increases, progress remains too slow to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal target of ending child labour in all its forms.

The Conference featured a series of high-level sessions at the Marrakech Convention Centre, focusing on practical and policy driven pathways for faster action. Key themes of discussion included “Immediate and Effective Measures to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labour” and “Stronger Voices, Fairer Incomes, Brighter Futures: Decent Work Pathways to Ending Child Labour”. Subsequent sessions addressed child labour in supply chains, its implications for mental health, and emerging protection challenges in digital environments. Dedicated forums also explored the role of civil society, strategies for youth employment, and avenues for strengthened regional cooperation.

During the Conference, the ILO launched the Child Labour Observatory, a new global platform designed to provide country-level data, legal frameworks, and policy tools to support evidence-based policymaking and coordinated actions.

As the world has missed the 2025 interim elimination target, the Conference represented a critical juncture to reinvigorate global momentum and reaffirm the shared commitment to ensuring that no child is deprived of their right to education, protection, and a safe and dignified future.