An estimated 215 million children are trapped in child labour worldwide, of which more than half are exposed to the worst forms of child labour such as work in hazardous environments, slavery or other forms of forced labour, illicit activities including drug trafficking and prostitution, and involvement in armed conflict.
Each year World Day against Child Labour brings together governments, employers and workers, organizations, and civil society to highlight the plight of child labourers.
In pursuit of the abolition of child labour, the UN aims to eliminate the worst forms of this practice by 2016.
The International Labour Organization launched this Day in 2002.