The International Labour Organization (ILO), UNICEF, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are set to convene a high-level roundtable in Ankara, Türkiye, to accelerate coordinated action against child labour and strengthen national and international cooperation on the issue.
The meeting, scheduled for 9 June 2026, is being held ahead of the World Day Against Child Labour on 12 June and will bring together government institutions, social partners, United Nations agencies, civil society groups, and academic representatives. The discussions aim to reinforce commitments and translate policy pledges into practical and coordinated action.
The initiative comes at a time when global progress in eliminating child labour has stalled, with an estimated 138 million children still engaged in child labour worldwide, including around 54 million in hazardous work. International organizations emphasize that renewed cooperation is urgently needed to address the issue more effectively.
The roundtable is expected to align with the global campaign theme “Red card to child labour: Fair play for children, decent work for adults,” which calls for stronger enforcement of protections for children and improved access to decent work opportunities for adults.
Organizers say the event builds on momentum from the Sixth Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour held in Marrakech earlier this year, where participants reaffirmed the need to move beyond policy commitments toward measurable action.
The Türkiye-focused initiative aims to strengthen integrated national responses by improving coordination between institutions and enhancing collaboration across sectors. Officials involved in the effort say such partnerships are essential to addressing the complex social and economic factors that contribute to child labour.
By linking global frameworks with local implementation strategies, the participating organizations hope to support long-term progress toward eliminating child labour and improving conditions for children and families.
