#Japan #Tokyo #ACE #Child Labor #Global Awareness

'Child Labor Can Be Eradicated' Campaign

On June 12, in recognition of the World Day Against Child Labor, certified NPO ACE (located in Taito, Tokyo, and led by Yuka Iwatake) is launching a campaign titled 'Child Labor Can Be Eradicated.' This initiative aims to raise awareness and encourage action surrounding child labor issues.

Currently, about 1 in 13 children worldwide, totaling approximately 138 million, are engaged in child labor. Many of these children work in industries that produce goods closely related to our everyday lives, such as cocoa and coffee. Furthermore, in Japan, there is a dire situation involving forms of child labor that violate children's rights, such as sexual exploitation and illegal part-time jobs.

The 'Child Labor Can Be Eradicated' campaign includes three main components aimed at mobilizing community action: 1) A social media quiz on child labor and children's rights, 2) a crowdfunding initiative to support the abolition of child labor, and 3) participation in the 'Stop! Child Labor Campaign 2026,' which invites citizens to take part in three different actions.

A Global Issue That Hits Home

According to the latest estimates from the ILO (International Labour Organization) and UNICEF published in 2025, about 138 million children around the world are engaged in child labor, with around 60% of this labor occurring in agriculture. This includes the production of cocoa, coffee, cotton, and sugar—goods we consume daily.

In Ghana, which accounts for about 70% of Japan's cocoa imports, around 770,000 children are involved in cocoa harvesting and transportation. This means that roughly 1 in 2 children on cocoa farms in Ghana are engaged in child labor.

In Japan, the situation is precarious as well, with cases of children being exploited for sexual purposes or engaging in hazardous work due to their inability to feel safe at home, school, or in their communities. This demonstrates that child labor is not only a problem in far-off countries; it directly affects several children here too.

ACE believes that child labor can be eradicated through coordinated efforts within society. For instance, in the 1990s, when child labor in the soccer ball industry became a pressing issue, collaborations among citizens, corporations, NGOs, and international organizations led to a significant reduction, with child labor officially being deemed 'almost eradicated.'

However, the target set forth in the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) for the abolition of all forms of child labor by 2025 remains unmet. To achieve this goal by 2030, action must proceed approximately 11 times faster than current progress.

ACE's multifaceted initiatives include community building in cocoa-producing areas of Ghana, raising awareness in Japan, and collaborating with businesses to change the systemic issues that foster child labor.

Overview of the Campaign

• - Campaign Name: 'Child Labor Can Be Eradicated.'
• - Duration: June 1 – June 30, 2026, focusing on activities around World Day Against Child Labor on June 12.
• - More Information: Visit ACE's page (to be published on June 1).

Three Actions to Get Involved

1. Social Media Quiz: 'Children's Rights Quiz'

ACE will post quizzes on social media, prompting participants to rethink issues surrounding child labor. The quizzes will include questions such as, 'Is there the worst form of child labor in Japan?' and 'Does the chocolate you eat connect to child labor?' This encourages individuals to explore the connections between these global issues and their daily lives. Participants can help expand awareness by sharing their engagement with the quiz.

Check out ACE's social media here:
Twitter
Instagram

2. Crowdfunding Initiative

ACE is launching a crowdfunding campaign to eradicate child labor in cocoa-growing areas of Ghana and promote children's rights in Japan. The organization is committed to change the societal systems that produce child labor, and they seek public support for their mission.

Visit the crowdfunding platform here:

3. 'Stop! Child Labor Campaign 2026'

From May 15 to June 30, ACE will manage the 'Stop! Child Labor Campaign 2026' under the Child Labor Network (CL-Net). Participants can post photos holding a red card with the hashtags #StopChildLabor or #STOPCL on social media. For every post, a sponsor will donate 100 yen to support NGOs working towards the abolition of child labor, with a goal of 13,800 actions reflecting the number of child laborers globally.

Join the campaign here:

Small Steps Can Create Big Changes

Participating in social media quizzes or sharing posts might seem trivial, but individual actions can indeed trigger broader social movements. I've witnessed this numerous times: friends choosing fair-trade chocolate because of ACE's outreach, companies adopting sustainable practices inspired by customer feedback, and individuals beginning their support for ACE after seeing an email forwarded by a friend.

It's challenging for one person to make a hundred strides, but if a hundred people each take one step, it's equivalent to making those hundred strides together. Society will undoubtedly change for the better. To eradicate child labor, not only support is required; increasing awareness and understanding in society is essential. I hope this campaign becomes a 'gateway to knowledge' for someone and that individual steps will connect to create a larger movement.

About ACE

ACE, a certified non-profit organization, focuses on protecting children's rights and combating child labor. The organization works to safeguard children in Ghana's cocoa-producing areas from hazardous labor and raises awareness of child labor issues in Japan. ACE was established in 1997 by five students to organize a global march against child labor initiated by human rights activist Kailash Satyarthi, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. In March 2023, ACE received the SDGs Promotion Director (Prime Minister) Award at the sixth Japan SDGs Award, marking the first time an international NGO received this honor.

For inquiries, please contact:
ACE - Akasaka, Aoi
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 03-3835-7555 (Weekdays 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
Website: ACE Japan