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World Day Against Child Labour 2025: Theme, History, Quotes & UNICEF Warning
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World Day Against Child Labour is observed every year on June 12. The day serves as a reminder of the urgent need to protect children from exploitation and uphold their rights.
World Day Against Child Labour 2025: Every child has the right to grow up in a safe, nurturing environment that supports their well-being and development. No child should be forced into manual labour to earn a living—such circumstances often expose them to physical and mental abuse. Sadly, child labour remains widespread, particularly in developing nations.
To raise awareness and call for global action, World Day Against Child Labour is observed every year on June 12. The day serves as a reminder of the urgent need to protect children from exploitation and uphold their rights.
World Day Against Child Labour 2025 Theme
The theme for this year is 'Progress is clear, but there's more to do: let's speed up efforts!' It reflects the progress made so far in reducing child labour, while also emphasizing the need to intensify global efforts to meet international goals.
World Day Against Child Labour 2025: The Global Picture
According to UNICEF, as of 2024, nearly 138 million children were still engaged in child labour. 'Though progress has been made since 2020, millions are still being denied their right to learn, play, and simply be children," UNICEF shared on X, formerly Twitter. UNICEF and the International Labour Organization (ILO) are urging governments to take stronger, faster action.
World Day Against Child Labour: History
The International Labour Organization (ILO) first observed World Day Against Child Labour on June 12, 2002, at its Geneva headquarters. Since then, it has been marked globally to shine a light on this ongoing crisis. The year 2025 marks the 21st anniversary of this important observance.
World Day Against Child Labour: Significance
This day was launched to support the growing international demand to end child labour. In India, the government has implemented a National Policy on Child Labour since 1987. This policy emphasizes both the rehabilitation of affected children and the need to tackle the root cause — poverty — by improving the economic well-being of their families.
WORLD DAY AGAINST CHILD LABOUR 2025: QUOTES
'Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man." – Rabindranath Tagore.
'Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow." – A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
'Safety and security don't just happen; they are the result of collective consensus and public investment." – Nelson Mandela.
'Some girls cannot go to school because of the child labour and child trafficking." – Malala Yousafzai.
'You can't regulate child labour. You can't regulate slavery. Some things are just wrong." – Michael Moore.
First Published:
June 12, 2025, 10:32 IST
