2013 World Day Against Child Labor: "No" to Child Labor

2013 World Day Against Child Labor: "No" to Child Labor in Domestic Work

Press Statement

John Kerry
Secretary of State

Washington, DC

June 12, 2013

We are proud to stand united with our partners in the international community on this World Day Against Child Labor, and with one voice, we call for the elimination of child labor.

The International Labor Organization’s latest estimates suggest that over 215 million boys and girls throughout the world are involved in child labor. This year, World Day Against Child Labor calls attention to child labor in domestic work.

Because domestic work is carried out largely behind closed doors, these children are particularly vulnerable to hazardous and exploitative conditions and are often subject to sexual harassment, and mental and physical abuse.

The Department of State’s labor officers, based at our foreign missions throughout the world, provide insightful reports from the field highlighting the plight of child laborers.

The U.S. Department of State’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices and the annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report call attention to worldwide trends in child labor. We also recognize that engagement on the grassroots level by NGOs and civil society groups is essential and we applaud and support the efforts of these organizations.

We call on our partners in the international community to join us in fulfilling our collective commitment to these children by adopting national policies that eliminate child labor and create an environment that prevents the exploitation of children.

Together, we can make a difference.

ENDS

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