#Child Labor #SDGs goals #ACE NGO

Urgent Call for International Dialogue on Child Labor

As we approach the deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals' target 8.7, aimed at eradicating child labor globally by 2025, significant challenges remain. Recent statistics indicate that approximately 138 million children worldwide are still engaged in child labor, highlighting the uphill battle ahead. In light of these alarming figures, the Japanese NGO, ACE (Action Against Child Exploitation), took a proactive step by organizing a side event at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF 2025) in New York on July 16, 2023.

Context of the Event

The HLPF serves as a crucial international platform where member states, international organizations, and civil society come together to report and discuss progress on the SDGs. This year, the Japanese government participated by presenting its Voluntary National Review (VNR). Target 8.7 regarding the elimination of child labor is considered essential in breaking the cycle of poverty and is set to be achieved five years earlier than other SDGs, making 2025 a pivotal year.

During the event, notable speakers included former child laborers from the U.S., members from the Global March Against Child Labor, representatives from the Ghanaian government, and executives from the chocolate company Tony's Chocolonely, alongside the Child Labor Coalition and ACE. These participants collectively expressed a strong commitment to creating a world free from child labor.

Overview of the Event

• - Title: Dialogue on SDG Goal 8.7 to Eliminate Child Labor by 2025: How to Achieve a World Without Child Labor?
• - Location: UN Plaza Conference Room, New York, USA
• - Organizers: ACE, Global March Against Child Labor, Ghanaian Government, Child Labor Coalition
• - Date & Time: July 16, 2025, from 1:15 PM to 2:30 PM (local time)

Keynotes and Discussions

Among the distinguished speakers was Claudia Fuentes Julio, Chair of Alliance 8.7, who indicated that, despite a decrease in the number of child laborers from 160 million in 2020 to 138 million in 2024, it is unlikely that the SDG target 8.7 will be achieved. The Alliance’s mission involves eradicating forced labor and human trafficking, emphasizing the need for enhanced actions from stakeholders to ensure that every child is safeguarded from child labor.

Esther Ofori Ajeiman from Ghana's Ministry of Employment and Labor shared Ghana's ambitious vision for abolishing child labor by 2025. Since 2018, Ghana has implemented a strategy focused on children's rights protection and continued education, introducing a