The fight against child labour is a top priority for the European Union. Every child trapped in labour is a broken promise, a future stolen from us all. We must act urgently.

On this World Day Against Child Labour, the 2025 ILO/UNICEF Global Estimates reveal a heart-wrenching truth: 137.6 million children remain in child labour, despite a 22.4 million decline since 2020. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the hardest-hit region with 86.6 million children—63% of the global total—progress has stalled. Child recruitment by armed groups is also rising globally, underscoring the worlds failure to meet the Sustainable Development Goals target 8.7 to end child labour by 2025.

The European Union stands resolute in its zero-tolerance policy towards child labour. Through our development cooperation, trade agreements, and legislative initiatives, we are tirelessly working to eliminate this scourge. We advocate for living wages to lift families out of poverty, quality education to empower vulnerable children, and robust laws to protect children—because none should be left behind.

Through the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child, we promote education initiatives that keep children out of work and highlight the need for supply chains to be free from child labour. We also encourage stronger labour inspections in partner countries.

We call on all partners—governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector—to step up for our joint ambition. Key priorities include addressing the main drivers of child labour, including promoting living wages for adults to alleviate household poverty, investing in accessible quality education for children in vulnerable situations, social protection, and enforcing minimum age standards.

The EU will remain a leader in the fight against child labour, advocating for a world where every childs rights are upheld.