Last week, the UN announced that with the signage of the Pacific archipelago Tonga on August 4, 2020, the last of the 187 member states of the UN’s International Labour Organization (ILO) have now ratified a convention to protect children from the worst forms of child labour, including slavery, prostitution, and trafficking.
“Universal ratification of Convention 182 is an historic first,” ILO Director-General Guy Ryder emphasizes. “It reflects a global commitment that the worst forms of child labour, such as slavery, sexual exploitation, the use of children in armed conflict or other illicit or hazardous work that compromises children’s health, morals or psychological wellbeing, have no place in our society."
The ratification is not only an important milestone in the fight to end child labor, but also the first International Labour Convention that has been ratified by all member states. The ILO ratifications are known for catalyzing national reforms and translating them to concrete change on the ground.
Learn more about the ratification here.
Learn more about the ILO Conventions on child labour here.